Attention Deficit Disorder A To Z. Comprehensive Guide To Adhd For Parents.

ADD is the acronym for a condition known as Attention Deficit Disorder. This disorder is thought to afflict a surprisingly large percentage of the school-age population. Some studies even show as high as 3-5% of children suffering from the condition.

The disorder can be somewhat difficult to diagnose, because the symptoms appear relatively often in children. They include restlessness, inability to focus for long periods of time on low-stimulation activities (including but not limited to homework), a tendency to daydream or become easily distracted, etc. It is important to note that many children suffer from these symptoms every now and again. It is just a fact of being a child. However, if the symptoms are persistent and they impede the child’s ability to learn at a reasonable rate, it may be beneficial to look into treatments methods.

Tip! Adults with ADD often realize that they have Attention Deficit Disorder when their own child is diagnosed. Looking through the list of symptoms, the parent often sees similarities in their own present or past behavior.

However, it is equally important to note that this disorder does not afflict children exclusively. There seems to be a commonly held belief that these symptoms are just the result of children being children and that they’ll eventually grow out of it. For some, that is absolutely the case. As they get older, their attention spans will increase and extended periods of schoolwork or mental tasks become easier and easier. Nevertheless, recent studies show that nearly 60% of children with ADD become adults with ADD.

In adults, the symptoms are very similar to those found in children. However, being an adult, they can manifest with truly destructive results. Due to the inability to focus, adults with ADD are prone to missing deadlines at work or forgetting about appointments. They often seem extremely frazzled, chaotic or disorganized. In a professional setting, this is often considered unacceptable.

Tip! The Attention Deficit Disorder adult can find help naturally without the side effects of ADD medication treatment by incorporate diet, exercise and lifestyle modifications.

Currently, doctors are at a loss as to what causes ADD. There does not appear to be any correlation between upbringing or environment that triggers this disorder. Put another way, it affects children across every demographic. Doctors have pinpointed actual changes in the brains of those that suffer from the disorder, so it is not merely a behavioral problem as was the consensus for many years.

Diagnosing ADD can be somewhat difficult, because the symptoms are so very common. For this reason, there is no single test that can be performed with a definitive “positive” or “negative” diagnosis. To secure a proper diagnosis, observations need to be made over an extended period of time from caregivers, teachers and physicians. The behavior also needs to persist over a long period of time, generally approximately six months or more.

ADD is treated in a variety of ways, many of which are somewhat controversial. The most common form of treatment is through stimulant medications, the most well known being Ritalin. This medication can be prescribed to children as young as six years old, inciting some debate whether drugs are the healthiest way to treat the disorder. For this reason, several non-stimulant and antidepressant therapies have been developed. However, there has been less success with these methods. Almost all doctors agree that medication in conjunction with behavior management techniques is the most effective means to managing the disease, whether it be found in children or adults.

Tip! In short, a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder should be considered a start, not an end. Too often, when doctors see a child is hyperactive or has a short attention span, they write a prescription for Ritalin or Dexedrine and call it a day.

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