Adhd

ADHD ADHD can be seen in children as well as adults. Symptoms can be noticed at a very young age. The degree of symptoms can vary person to person. Sometimes an adult or child may have a hard time doing certain daily tasks. They can be easily distracted and unable to focus. Not everyone with this illness will have to take medication it would depend on their particular issues stemming from ADHD. It used to be that not much was known about ADHD but in recent years more is being discovered, medications are better, and people with the illness are learning new ways to cope. ADHD does not have to control a person’s life they can learn to control the illness. ADHD is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is believed that children who suffer from ADHD as children tend to carry these same symptoms into their adult life. (Biological Psychiatry, 1 January 2009) ADHD is when an adult or child has symptoms of inattention, impulsive, hyperactivity these symptoms must be noticed for at least 6 months or more. Since the 1970s ADHD has been a hot button topic causing controversy. (Wikipedia 26, April 2011) The first medications to treat ADHD began in 1937. Since that time more has been discovered and more has been learned about ADHD. Some people do not believe that ADHD is a real disorder and therefore dispute the illness altogether. However, because of people becoming more informed about ADHD more patients have been diagnosed with ADHD. It is not known why someone suffers from ADHD but it is known to be a behavioral disorder. It is believed that ADHD is caused by a chemical imbalance of the brain. ADHD is also believed to be genetic and may run in the genes making ADHD hereditary. Some risk factors consist of age, sex, being born early or heart problems and having a mother who smoked/drank during pregnancy are just a few. Symptoms can consist of a child or adult being fidgety, restless, unable to concentrate, poor grades, forgetfulness, unable to stay still or focus. There are many symptoms and some people experience more symptoms than others. This is because a person can have a mild form of ADHD to a more severe level. Sometimes a person suffering from ADHD can also suffer from other illnesses as well: such as trouble sleeping, depression, learning disorders, and anxiety. ADHD affects a person in their daily life whether it is home, school, social, or work. (Riley J September 2010) When a child is being diagnosed the doctor will look at many factors. Some of the things they do are gather information from parents, school, and teachers. They will talk to the parent about when symptoms started and look at the age of the child now. They will examine the evidence showing that the child exhibits one or more of the symptoms. A physical exam will be performed and a patient’s medical history looked at to look for other possible scenarios. (WebMD 2011) They want to be sure the child is suffering from ADHD and not another underlying cause that could resemble ADHD. Diagnosis of an adult tends to be easier because an adult may recognize the signs. They will go over work ethic, history, childhood history, and behavior. A physical and psychological test may be administered. Treatments can range depending on the age and severity of the ADHD. The best treatments are classroom accommodations, counseling, and medications. Sometimes a child can learn to cope and can avoid medications; however, some people tend to need medications to lead a more productive life. Stimulant medications that are used are Ritalin, Concerta, and Daytrana. These can be used for short or long term effects depending on the dose. These medications are used to balance chemicals in the brain. The purpose of the medications is to control the symptoms helping a person with ADHD focus, pay attention, sit still, and impulsive behavior. When first starting medication it may take awhile to find the best dose that works more effectively for the child. Medication has side effects as well such as headache, loss of appetite, weight loss, and insomnia. Side effects tend to last a short time when a child first starts the medication. Making the effort to ensure the ADHD child has the right guidance and strategies to succeed are important. Talking to the child’s teacher and school about programs available or what can be done to ensure the child can progress academically. Things to help the school and teacher could be to communicate, plan, share information, and set goals. When one has a child with ADHD a parent must set rules and discipline. Also games that promote memory are a good idea since people with ADHD tend to forget easily.( ©2010 - American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry. ) A child with ADHD may benefit from social and behavioral therapy. If a child does not receive the right guidance and support they may tend to do things that are unacceptable in society. They may not socialize in the right way and could potentially put themselves or others at risk due to their impulsive behavior. Diagnosis and treatment differs from earlier years because today more people are accepting that ADHD is a real illness, making it easier to seek help. More doctors are aware of the signs and symptoms and there are more programs available today than ever before. A parent can seek behavioral and social therapies, help from schools and better medications. There are many myths about ADHD such as it is a childhood disorder, it is over diagnosed, lack of parenting is the cause, and that ADHD is not a real disorder. Being informed can help people understand what ADHD is and what it means and what should or can be done. People with ADHD may have a harder time in life than those who do not. It does not mean they are incapable they just may need to learn of ways to cope with the illness and use the tools that most benefit them. ADHD is a mental illness that affects not only children but also adults. Many children who are diagnosed as children carry symptoms into adulthood. Not every person with ADHD will have to take medication however, for many medication is a great way to stem some of the symptoms. Children with ADHD tend to struggle in school. Statistically in a classroom with 30 children there may be 1 to 3 students who have ADHD. ADHD can cause distractions for the person with the illness but also for those around them. Neurotransmitters can alter ones behavior and cause one to act differently from those around them. Those with ADHD have changes in the dopamine transport gene, Medications can help with this. One thing about ADHD is that someone who has it appears to be like everyone else. They do not look different but they tend to have behavior that is different. It is important to learn what your local schools, teachers and doctors can do to help you learn and cope. When looking at ADHD diet is also something that is looked into. For a child with ADHD they can be sensitive to sugar. Sugar should be cut out when a person has ADHD. Certain foods should be avoided such as sweet cereals, soda, candy, and chocolate. It may be suggested that a ADHD child or adult change eating habits even eating more organic foods that do not contain pesticides or other chemicals. Many people still are unsure whether this is a real illness or not. It seems that more people are becoming aware and more is being learned about ADHD. Most of us may know someone who suffers from ADHD. I have a child who is ADHD yet his symptoms seem to decrease with age and I have a nephew whose symptoms are more severe. A parent needs to play an active role in assuring their child can learn to cope or learn coping skills to be able to succeed. It is better to be diagnosed at a younger age because that way changes and things can be done to prevent it from drastically affecting their lives. ADHD is a mental illness that can affect anyone despite race, color, or ethnicity or age. References https://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail'vid=6&hid=22&sid=31b1446a-9435-45b3-b7b1-35b806c36b9d%40sessionmgr4&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=edselp&AN=000632230065000108012031 (Childhood Predictors of Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Results from the World Health Organization World Mental Health Survey Initiative) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder https://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail'vid=10&hid=22&sid=31b1446a-9435-45b3-b7b1-35b806c36b9d%40sessionmgr4&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=nrc&AN=2009543498 http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/diagnosing-adhd http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/publication_store/your_child_adhd https://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail'vid=2&hid=5&sid=672bfddd-7c8f-4169-b664-57b90bafafb1%40sessionmgr10&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=loh&AN=15192484