ADHD Articles:

ADHD Chiropractic

There is a much known belief that there can be a trauma to the spine and there can even be a micro-trauma, these can occur throughout our lives

ADHD Diet

At the time when flares became famous and were considered to be a fashionable item worth having this was the time around in the 1970s

ADHD in Women

The symptoms of ADHD in women are same as the symptoms of ADHD in men; there is no point of difference.

ADHD Medications

These ADHD medications are one the longest prescribed medicines of any class that is available till current date.

 

Symptoms

ADHD is mainly characterized by the following symptoms:inattention,hyperactivity and impulsiveness, which are manifested from early childhood. Still,these symptoms can also have other causes,which makes the examination of the child absolutely necessary,so that a diagnosis may be provided by an expert.

The disease is extremely difficult to diagnose precisely because of the many different symptoms,depending on circumstances that are unusually soliciting for the child. It is equally possible for an overactive child ,which seems to need only "more discipline",and for the quiet and silent day-dreamer to be affected by ADHD. It is easier to notice a problem in a child that seems to have too much energy,than in that who stands still,without making himself noticed in any way,seeming only lowly motivated. But this doesn't exclude the possibility of that disease in any of them: there might only be two different cases of ADHD. The very age of childhood makes the diagnoses more difficult to establish: all children are capricious,sometimes very energetic, other times day-dreamers or distracted, exuberant and impulsive. But when the child's activity in school seems seriously affected by these symptoms,there appears the suspicion of this disease.

Three types of behavior are indicated by the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders2 (DSM-IV-TR): constant inattentiveness,hyperactivity and impulsiveness,or the gathering of the three types. The three subtypes identified by professionals are represented by

predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type (which is not characterized by an obvious lack of attention),the predominantly inattentive type,ADD, (who lacks hyperactivity or unusual impulsiveness)and the combined type,that contains a fusion of characteristics from the other two. Some patients may present the three types together.

Hyperactivity-impulsiveness

Hyperactivity in childhood manifests through permanent motion. These children are impossible to stop or control. They permanently feel the need to run all over the place,to play and to use everything at the touch of their hand as a toy,or are real chatter-boxes,proving an obvious impossibility to stand still,even when the situation demands it. They may wiggle their feet,touch and play with any object. In adults or teenagers,hyperactivity makes itself noticed by internal agitation,and a constant need of always being in motion and performing one or more simultaneous actions at the time,all the time.

Impulsiveness in children means non-calculated action, mostly performed without thinking. These children are unable to refrain their language,spontaneously express their feelings without any kind of restraint and don't analyze at all the consequences of certain acts. They have difficulties to wait,they easily lose their patience,or even hit another child. So,this may also drive to "dictatorial" behavior and violence. Teenagers and adults prefer small,quick activities,that will immediately pay-off,instead of the stability of a long-term activity.

Hyperactivity-impulsiveness 's most frequent manifestations are the following:

  • The sensation of agitation,anxiety,fidgeting with hands or feet or inability to stay still
  • The need to run,to climb or to leave,even when the situation demands otherwise
  • Answering before hearing the whole question ,or in inappropriate manner
  • Difficulties to stand in line or in waiting for his/her turn

Inattention

Inattention is easy to recognize in children by the difficulty they have to stay focused on one thing or activity,by the fact that they immediately get bored,unless they really like the activity they perform. But it is extremely hard for these children to learn new things ,they are unwilling and unable to concentrate on an organized assignment. Homework represents a most difficult activity for them and will have errors and modifications generating frustration for the child and his parents,they forget or misinterpret a task.

The following symptoms of lack of attention are given by DSM-IV-TR :

  • Places,images or sounds of no importance have the power to distract them immediately
  • Many times they pay no attention to significant particularities,which causes them to make mistakes
  • Most of the times,they do not follow the given instructions or lose the necessary tools for the performance of an action(toys,books,pencils)
  • They often try to simultaneously perform more than one action,without finalizing none of them

In childhood, inattention is not often accompanied by hyperactivity or impulsiveness,but it manifests through a constant lack of attention. The ones affected by the second type of ADHD are day-dreamers,"out of this world",in a state of confusion ,inert and slow in movements. They have a hard time in assimilating information,compared to "average" children,and lacking the last ones' accuracy. These children misunderstand oral exercise and make serious mistakes in dealing with the tasks given by the teacher. Other times,they pretend to be working on the given assignment,but they don't focus or misinterpret it.

They don't have the same kind of problem the hyperactive or impulsive children deal with. They get along much better with the other children,they are not dealing with discipline problems at home or in school. They don't also share the problems of the combined type,so their problem is not obvious and may be easily ignored,but they equally need specialized help.

Understanding the ADHD Affected Teenager

Teenagers usually represent a challenge not only for the child in transition,but also for his parents. The ones affected by ADHD are much more difficult to handle,because of the increased difficulty they have regarding peer-pressure,the risk of failure in certain areas,a bad opinion on themselves. The things that are not allowed seem more and more tempting,such as alcohol,sex or drugs,and they are regardless of the consequences. A constant need to break the familiar rules takes over them,which drives to confusion from both them and their parents. The last ones have at first a feeling of relaxation,generated by the ending of early school years ,but new times bring new problems. Even if,until then,the child constantly got professional help and evaluation,the new period demands accurate re-examination..Click Here to Read More

The Two Sides of ADHD Child Treatment

The help a child suffering from the ADHD condition needs, comes on two sides. One of them is represented by medication that helps controlling the physical impulses, skills, behavioral problems that could create problems in certain occasions. The second part of the treatment is counseling. Psychological help, therapy with a specialist is required. It will help the child overcome the emotional and mental issues that he finds hard to understand, helps the child to improve the self esteem and to see himself with different eyes, and, establish new relations and new methods of communicating and understanding with the parents. Parents, on the other hand, may need counseling too, in order to better understand the special needs of the child affected with the disorder and to establish new and proper ways of dealing and controlling the young one's behavior. In very young children, most of the therapy is focused on the parents.Click Here to Read More