ADHD / ADD: What is it?

ADHD: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. ADD: Attention Deficit Disorder. Attention-Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder is a group name for behaviors which many children and adults have. ADHD causes that people who have it having trouble concentrating and paying attention. They seem to be much more active and/or impulsive than their group-mates from the same age. These behaviors can cause enormous problems in areas such as relationships, learning and behavior. Children with ADHD are often misdiagnosed as just “being difficult” or having “normal” behavior problems. ADHD begins in childhood.

ADHD causes deficits in executive function: the ability to complete tasks, plan and think ahead, control impulses, organize, and follow through. You can help your child in learning to acquire these executive skills on their own by having a positive attitude and common sense. Common sense will tell you which behaviors to work on the most, when to negotiate and when to stand firm, and how to head off problems before they start. A positive attitude will help you see the small, praiseworthy successes that can add up to permanent improvement in your child’s behavior.

The symptoms:There are two main categories: Inattention and Hyperactivity. A inattentive child/adult will have the following symptoms:very easily distracted, often make careless mistakes in school or at work, might neglect to pay attention to details, will often start off strong on a task but then fail to complete it, trouble following directions and often forget things, procrastinators, might have difficulty with housework/remembering paying bills, difficulty sleeping, as their mind is occupied by too many thoughts, they become frustrated easily, have emotional outbursts, and frequent mood swings, seems disorganized, is easily distracted.

A hyperactive child/adult will have these symptoms:Can’t sit still, moves hands and feet, fidgety, very impulsive behavior, having trouble listening/paying attention to others, children have trouble playing quietly, difficulty waiting in line / waiting for their turn, runs or climbs inappropriately, blurts out answers, interrupts people, talk too much, is always on the go. A child must show multiple symptoms for at least 3 month to be diagnoses for ADHD.

In diagnosing ADHD, the process of “clinical judgment” is used. There are no lab tests that can be used to determine the disorder. this process involves a doctor asking specific questions about the patient’s behavior and symptoms as well as other factors in their life. The symptoms have to fit into the ADHD profile only, to be properly diagnosed.

The doctor will evaluate information from parents and teachers. They are the ones closest to the patient and observe the behavior most often. the reason teachers are asked is because children act differently at school than at home. If the answers differ from the parents and teachers, a different diagnosis should be sought by the doctor.

A second method of diagnosing ADHD is for parents to fill out questionnaires about symptoms, and another about medical and psychological problems. Along with the first two forms of evaluations, a third should be included. That would be an in depth interview of medical history as well as a physical. Be sure to be as complete as possible, to ensure an accurate diagnosis.