ADHD is an abbreviation used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This is a mental disorder classified under neurodevelopment. This problem causes patients to experience problems with paying attention, controlling behavior, and they engage in excessive activity. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the most diagnosed mental disorder diagnosed in children, even though the cause is always never found in most of the cases. ADHD in children continues to be a problem, affecting millions of children globally.
A diagnosis of this condition can only be made after symptoms have prevailed for over six months. Symptoms should also be the cause for inability to function in a minimum of two settings. Common settings are recreational sites, home, workplaces, and schools. Some children have trouble in multiple settings, especially if the condition is advanced. The criteria should also have been attained at age twelve for the diagnosis to be authentic.
Children suffering from ADHD exhibit several different symptoms. The symptoms usually occur together at the same time, but not in all the cases. Patients often forget things, keep switching activities, miss details, and get easily distracted. They find it difficult to maintain focus on a single task, and they become bored with a task after a few minutes. They have trouble following instructions and understanding minor details. They often daydream, move slowly, and seem confused.
About 65 percent of all cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the condition occurs alongside another mental disorder. Associated disorders include oppositional defiant disorder, Tourette syndrome, anxiety disorder, mood disorder, primary disorder of vigilance, and learning disability. Additional conditions include restless legs syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance use disorder, and sleep disorder.
This condition has also been associated with language delay, developmental coordination disorder, and persistent bed wetting. Language delays consists of many disorders such as hardship following instructions, slow processing of spoken language, hardship listening in distracting environment, and weakness in short term auditory memory. Difficulty in telling the difference between normal and abnormal level of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity often make diagnosis difficult. Thus, most diagnoses are often made later in life.
Studies link attention deficient hyperactivity disorder to low intelligence quotient. Patients with the condition also score lowly in IQ tests. These findings have always been received with controversy because the low scores may be caused by distractibility and not intellectual incapability. More research is being done to understand why patients often score lowly in IQ tests.
There are three main subtypes of ADHD, that is, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, predominantly inattentive, and the type that combines the first two. The main cause of this condition is often unknown in most cases. However, interactions between environmental and genetic factors are believed to be strong causes. Infection and brain trauma have also been associated with the condition.
Physicians aim to manage attention deficient hyperactivity disorder because it cannot be treated. Medications and counseling are some of the approaches used to manage it. Management efforts often cause outcomes to improve in the long run, but it is not possible to alleviate them completely. Stimulants, alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists, atomoxetine, and antidepressants are some of the medications used.
A diagnosis of this condition can only be made after symptoms have prevailed for over six months. Symptoms should also be the cause for inability to function in a minimum of two settings. Common settings are recreational sites, home, workplaces, and schools. Some children have trouble in multiple settings, especially if the condition is advanced. The criteria should also have been attained at age twelve for the diagnosis to be authentic.
Children suffering from ADHD exhibit several different symptoms. The symptoms usually occur together at the same time, but not in all the cases. Patients often forget things, keep switching activities, miss details, and get easily distracted. They find it difficult to maintain focus on a single task, and they become bored with a task after a few minutes. They have trouble following instructions and understanding minor details. They often daydream, move slowly, and seem confused.
About 65 percent of all cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the condition occurs alongside another mental disorder. Associated disorders include oppositional defiant disorder, Tourette syndrome, anxiety disorder, mood disorder, primary disorder of vigilance, and learning disability. Additional conditions include restless legs syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance use disorder, and sleep disorder.
This condition has also been associated with language delay, developmental coordination disorder, and persistent bed wetting. Language delays consists of many disorders such as hardship following instructions, slow processing of spoken language, hardship listening in distracting environment, and weakness in short term auditory memory. Difficulty in telling the difference between normal and abnormal level of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity often make diagnosis difficult. Thus, most diagnoses are often made later in life.
Studies link attention deficient hyperactivity disorder to low intelligence quotient. Patients with the condition also score lowly in IQ tests. These findings have always been received with controversy because the low scores may be caused by distractibility and not intellectual incapability. More research is being done to understand why patients often score lowly in IQ tests.
There are three main subtypes of ADHD, that is, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, predominantly inattentive, and the type that combines the first two. The main cause of this condition is often unknown in most cases. However, interactions between environmental and genetic factors are believed to be strong causes. Infection and brain trauma have also been associated with the condition.
Physicians aim to manage attention deficient hyperactivity disorder because it cannot be treated. Medications and counseling are some of the approaches used to manage it. Management efforts often cause outcomes to improve in the long run, but it is not possible to alleviate them completely. Stimulants, alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists, atomoxetine, and antidepressants are some of the medications used.
About the Author:
Find details about an effective treatment for ADHD in children and more info about an experienced pediatrician at http://developmentalpediatricstexas.com right now.
1 comments:
Interesting article, some new information, at least new to me. I suffer from ADHD. I have been experimenting with behavioral therapy based around iPhone and Apple Watch apps. Basically using the iPhone/Watch as a robot tutor, that reminds me of whatever it is I am working on. The app I am using is called EchoX, but any reminder app might work. What I am working on at the moment is impulsivity. Especially during conversation. The watch taps me, every few minutes during conversation, to remind me to calm down, listen, don't interrupt. I think it's working. I hope these sorts of robot helpers can help reduce reliance on medications.
Post a Comment