ADHD Guide

Jona asked:


I want to know if there are any successful treatments for the Attention Deficit Disorder without compromising my Savant Syndrome talents. My issue is losing the benefits of being Savant when treating the Attention Deficit Disorder.

Marc

multi-functional asked:


A.D.D is attention deficit disorder. i want your opinion on it. do think it is a real disorder or just a lack of discipline and motivation?

Sherry

Michelle Bery asked:


Living with the effects of Attention Deficit Disorder can be overwhelming and enormously demanding. Everyday activities that are barely noticed by other people take on a whole new set of challenges when you have Attention Deficit Disorder. The impact on one’s daily life can really only be understood by those who have also experienced it. For this reason, many who suffer from this condition often find participation in an Attention Deficit Disorder Support Group to be enormously helpful.

Those who have studied Attention Deficit Disorder are unclear as to its origin but are in agreement that it is most likely a neurological condition; the effects of which are manifested in inattentiveness, hyperactivity, or in some cases, a combination of both. Because of the prevalence of research being conducted, Attention Deficit Disorder has been brought to light in the last decade resulting in more and more diagnoses. Along with behavioral therapy, and in most cases, medical treatment, patients often find support through an Attention Deficit Disorder Support Group to be an integral part of their treatment.

For many, an Attention Deficit Disorder Support Group means the chance to be with people who understand. For young people especially - who are at the age when fitting in is of paramount concern - it can be a tremendous relief to be in a room where they are just like everyone else.

For adults - many of whom suffered through childhood before Attention Deficit Disorder was discovered - the opportunity to interact with those who face similar challenges can be a rewarding experience. Many of these adults are left with feelings of insecurity, having been misdiagnosed, misunderstood, and untreated for most of their lives. An Attention Deficit Disorder Support Group allows them the chance to unleash these feelings of inadequacy in a safe and supportive environment.

Attention Deficit Disorder can affect every area of a sufferer’s life, including their social interaction. Because of certain behaviors and challenges associated with the disorder many who suffer from it choose to isolate themselves rather than face social rejection. The Attention Deficit Disorder Support Group can mean a whole new world for Attention Deficit Disorder patients.

For information regarding Attention Deficit Disorder Support Groups the Internet can be an unrivaled resource. Look for support groups online; many will also have information about groups that meet in your local area. Additionally, any medical professional who treats Attention Deficit Disorder will commonly have information about Attention Deficit Disorder Support Groups.

Through medical treatment, emotional health, and a thriving Attention Deficit Disorder Support Group, sufferers of this disorder need no longer suffer alone.



Jeff

Tony Sinclair asked:


One of America’s most commonly misunderstood neurological conditions is Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Many people lack a full understanding of the disorder, and would not be able to identify it if they met a person with the condition. This article provides introductory information about ADD.

People diagnosed with ADD find it difficult to pay attention and focus on a given task. Motor restlessness and impulsive behavior are other indications of the disorder. Reports suggest approximately 4.4% of adults possess some degree of ADD.

ADD generally affects three or four parts of the brain. This causes multiple ‘profiles’ or ’styles’ of diagnoses in children and adults with the condition. ADD is understood as a neurobiological disorder, caused in the brain by malfunctioning dopamine neurotransmitter systems. Genes play a big part in most cases. There is a 30% chance of a child having ADD if a parent has the disorder. In cases of twins, if one of the pair has ADD, the other’s chances of being struck by the disease increase by 50%. There was once a belief that ADD is caused by poor nutrition, but this has since shown to be a myth. In the same vein, allergies, drugs and bad parenting have been discredited as causing ADD.

An individual with ADD is not getting sufficient neuro-chemicals. In simpler terms, the sufferer lacks normal stimulation of the brain. As a result, the brain attempts to increase the release of the chemicals with physical activities. This is not a conscious decision from people diagnosed with ADD. They really cannot help themselves; hyperactivity becomes a reflex.

Difficulties arise when sufferers face circumstances that do not stimulate them, like school work, and try to shift their attention to something that is stimulating to them. Of course the school work is completely hampered by this, and school-age ADD typically don’t perform well in their studies.

Consider, for example, a friend’s experience. This incident happened when research into the disease was in its infancy. Her child who would suddenly get up on his desk at the start of class, and would begin to tell jokes. Initially people thought he was trying to be funny and consciously disturb the others. But with time and awareness, the child was diagnosed with ADD.

Personal relationships and permanent employment also become a cause of concern for people with ADD. Legal issue also crop up when ADD causes people to take dangerous chances with themselves and end up doing careless things to stimulate themselves.



Rosa

Sue Jan asked:


The neurotransmitters are specific chemicals that help the brain to regulate the behavior of a person. Researches have shown that the rate at which the brain uses glucose is lower in individuals who are suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder in comparison to people who are not affected by ADD.

Symptoms commonly found among children with ADD are inattentiveness, impulsive behavior and hyperactivity. Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder find it difficult to do their homework or any assigned task, and even in holding conversation. Those with ADHD often take part in risky activities and therefore suffer two to four times the rate of accidental injuries as do children or adults without ADD.

Some of the symptoms of inattentiveness include making careless mistakes in homework or activities, difficulty in focusing on completing activities, difficulty in performing tasks, not listening, and being forgetful in daily activities.

Some of the symptoms of hyperactivity include restlessness of hands or feet, excessive fidgeting, problems in playing or focusing on activities, or excessive talking.

Symptoms due to impulsiveness include interrupting a conversation, impatience in waiting their turn, or blurting out answers even before the question is completed.

Adults with ADD are prone to risk-taking, careless or impulsive behavior, and difficulty with time management and organization. They often show an inability to structure their lives and to plan complex daily tasks, and also difficulty in self-control and self-motivation.

ADD is very difficult to diagnose and treat in younger people as it is sometimes related with mood disorders, employment issues, substance abuse, relationship problems or other psychological disorders. Previously it was believed that children and adolescents would grow out of ADD but now it is clear to psychologists that if ADD is not treated in childhood then it can create problems for the patient or his family.



Rebecca

Michelle Bery asked:


Attention Deficit Disorder can be defined in three ways - inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and a combination of both. New and better treatments for Attention Deficit Disorder are being developed every day. But prior to treatment is the obvious step of diagnosis - which can be the most difficult stage. Learning to understand Attention Deficit Disorder symptoms is the first line of defense in tackling this difficult condition.

Attention Deficit Disorder symptoms manifest themselves differently in every person. One sufferer may demonstrate the inability to concentrate on simple tasks, listen to straightforward directions, or focus long enough to complete a project; these are considered symptoms of classic Attention Deficit Disorder.

Others present with excessive hyperactivity - the inability to sit still, wait their turn, organize their thoughts, or control impulsive behavior; these are considered signs of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. In some cases, sufferers may actually demonstrate a combination of behaviors.

When making an Attention Deficit Disorder diagnosis, medical professionals will look for at least eight out of a possible fourteen Attention Deficit Disorder symptoms to be present. The medical community’s accepted guidelines on Attention Deficit Disorder symptoms acts as a checklist for determining prevailing behaviors.

When a significant number of Attention Deficit Disorder symptoms are present, a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder is made. Only then can you begin appropriate treatment - including therapy and effective medication.

If you are unsure whether to consult a doctor regarding behavioral concerns, do your own preliminary research on Attention Deficit Disorder symptoms. The Internet is a vast resource for finding signs and symptoms that may be attributed to Attention Deficit Disorder. There is no substitute for a doctor’s intervention; so if your research yields startling results regarding a pattern of behavior then make an appointment with a medical professional right away.

While there is no cure for Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder symptoms can be successfully managed with appropriate and consistent treatment.



Judith

Coni Anderson asked:


What us ADHD Disorder? ADHD is an acronym that stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This condition was formerly known as the attention deficit disorder, though the name was modified when it was noted that the affected people were also prone to severe hyperactivity.

ADHD commonly manifests in young children, though most of them carry the traits over into adulthood as well. ADHD is also referred to by some people as the “single-synapse” or the “short attention span” problem.

The reasons for this is because ADHD’s main characteristics are a marked inability to concentrate on any one thing for very long, accompanied by extremely impulsive behavior where the person doesn’t stop to think at all when they get an idea or react to a situation.

One of the most common indicators in a young child of ADHD is that they get bored easily. ADHD actually causes a decrease in the mind’s capacity to focus on a single act for very long, so anything repetitive or requiring attention will tax the person’s mental endurance far more than it would for a normal person. Kids who avoid homework because it’s “boring” or don’t want to do chores for the same reason often have ADHD.

ADHD also shows up in what parents call the “My child is a living ball of yippee” problem. It has other similar names, most of which are unprintable in polite company, but I’m sure you get the point. Afflicted children constantly fidget, never stop moving, run/climb/crawl/jump everywhere, seem to have boundless energy and undirected curiosity about anything and everything, and are almost always getting into trouble as a result. This is often accompanied by a total lack of discipline and self-control.

While the above factors are actually present in almost every child ever born in the history of the planet, ADHD is only applicable IF the child doesn’t “grow out” of the symptoms. This is the reason why ADHD is referred to as a deficiency-type of disorder; because, while children will display these symptoms early on and then mature later in life, learning self-discipline and focus, ADHD-afflicted children will develop much slower in their abilities to mentally focus and think logically. If your child still retains the same symptoms well after everyone else his or her age has “outgrown” it, then it usually indicates ADHD.

ADHD is present in adults as well, though because this disorder doesn’t completely stunt a persons mental development, only slows it in certain areas, all adults will have the same symptoms but in a lesser and more controllable fashion. ADHD is classified as an incurable psychological disorder, though modern methods of therapy are available to help ADHD afflicted children (and their parents!) cope with the effects.

The therapy sessions for the kids are geared towards teaching them to take the boundless energy that often accompanies ADHD and redirect it in a more constructive fashion. The parental therapy sessions teach the parents how to properly address the ADHD problem and teach their kids discipline. The therapy also helps the parents avoid the nervous breakdowns that usually accompany raising a kid with ADHD.

ADHD, is generally regarded as a relatively minor and non-fatal disorder (except maybe for cases when parents want to kill their kids out of sheer frustration and annoyance). The fact of the matter is, any child afflicted with ADHD will eventually learn enough self control to overcome the biggest of it’s effects.

However, even in adulthood these people will still retain some semblance of ADHD, manifesting in various ways like absent-mindedness, fickleness, and impulsive behavior. It has also been shown in studies that the traits of ADHD that carry over into adulthood make these same adults more prone than their peers to more serious psychological afflictions like manic-depression or melancholia.

Lastly, on a perverse note, ADHD has been proven to be 100% hereditary. This basically proves the old lines that your parents used to tell you when you were younger, that “Some day, your children will put you through what I’m going through”. ADHD can also be triggered in a child whose parents don’t have ADHD by various environmental influences like verbal abuse or a mother’s ingestion of drugs or alcohol while pregnant.

What are the symptoms of ADHD? ADHD, or the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a partially neurological, partially psychological problem that crops up in some kids. It’s genetically hereditary, but can also be triggered by various social and environmental influences. What ADHD basically does is that the parts of a child’s mind and nervous system that deal with control and focus suffer from a slower growth rate than normal, meaning children afflicted by it will learn self control and discipline more slowly than their peers. This fact usually leads to it’s own sets of problems that manifest as symptoms you can watch for to see if your child has ADHD. These are given below in terms that any parent will understand.

The perpetual yippee factor; ADHD afflicted kids will have boundless energy, screaming and laughing at the top of their lungs and generally being hyperactive pests that skitter around all over the place in an ecstatic state of whoopee. Trying to get them to sit still for more than a minute will lead to their fussing and fidgeting.

I’m bored mom! - There are two things that an ADHD afflicted kid will be unable to do. One, they will be unable to focus on or pay attention to anything for more than a few minutes at a time, and forget things that you tell them mere minutes after you say it. Two, they will avoid repetitive and monotonous acts (like schoolwork, taking a bath, or mowing the lawn) like the plague.

The plan? What’s that? - Kids with ADHD have a very hard time focusing on anything, which also leads to difficulty in arranging their thoughts in a controlled and logical fashion. Trying to teach them anything to do with organization, planning, and forethought is a trial in extreme patience.



David