| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( previously | | | | restless and always raring to go.b) He does not listen |
| known as ADD or ADHD) as a disease is rapidly | | | | and pays no heed to his parents or to his teachers.c) |
| gaining ground. The number of people suffering from | | | | He lacks the ability to concentrate even for a short |
| this disease, especially children and youngsters is rising | | | | span of time.d) He is extremely fidgety, restless and |
| rapidly. Some medical praticitioners insist that the rise in | | | | unable to sit still.e) A child/ youngster suffering from |
| cases is a direct result of better education and thus | | | | ADHD takes risks easily and does not consider the |
| early diagnosis. Other medical practicitioners will have | | | | consequences of his actions.f) He can be very |
| you believe that the rise in the number of ADHD | | | | talkative and blurts out everything.g) A person suffering |
| diagnosed suffers is due to increasing levels of toxins | | | | from ADHD can be easily distracted and thus finds it |
| and pollutants in our air and food. | | | | difficult to complete any tasks assigned to him. |
| With the medical profession arguing amongst itself as | | | | It is hopefully apparent now why so many children are |
| to the causes and cures of this illness what is the | | | | misdiagnosed – either as having the illness when |
| average parent to do. The first step is probably one of | | | | they don’t or not having it when they do. What |
| education i.e. parents must educate themselves as to | | | | parent can honestly say that their own child |
| the nature of this illness and the first place to start is | | | | wouldn’t fall into many if not all of the above |
| the symptoms. | | | | categories at some stage in the parenting cycle? |
| ADHD Checklist of possible symptoms: | | | | The official ADHD checklist for adults includes the |
| The ADHD Checklist is mainly an instrument in | | | | following points:a) An adult can suffer from ADHD if |
| determining the exact nature, degree and the impact | | | | he has suffered from hyperactivity and restlessness in |
| of the disease on an individual. However please | | | | his childhood.b) Any Adult suffering from the |
| don’t be surprised if your initial reaction to this list is | | | | symptoms described above in the children’s |
| to think but this describes most children – that was | | | | section.c) An adult suffering from ADHD shows |
| my reaction too. And this is a huge problem with | | | | inconsistent performance, decreasing work productivity |
| ADHD and similar illnesses. There are no | | | | and incomplete projects.d) Also such individuals get |
| “medical” tests – well certainly not free | | | | frustrated very easily and show signs of nervousness |
| available ones so the diagnosis of ADHD is subjective | | | | and hypertension.e) Adult ADHD sufferers can find it |
| – it is based on opinions – that of the parents, the | | | | extremely difficult to maintain close and intimate |
| medical practitioner, the child’s teacher etc. It goes | | | | relationships.f) They are constantly in search of |
| some way to explaining why a child badly affected by | | | | activities that stimulate them.g) They also suffer from |
| ADHD who has a saint for a mother and an angel for | | | | bouts of depression and low energy levels.h) They |
| a teacher is less likely to be diagnosed than a child | | | | lack organizational skills and planning. |
| who may be less affected by their “adhd” but | | | | Whilst the above checklists may provide you with a list |
| has a stressed out mother and overworked teacher. (I | | | | of the ADHD symptoms – has this list solved any |
| think my child may have suffered as a result of having | | | | of your worries or concerns? I would suspect the |
| a stressed out working mother who was on | | | | answer to that question is no – if you were worried |
| antidepressants and struggling to cope!) | | | | previously then you are possibly even more concerned |
| What does the ADHD Checklist Include? | | | | now. And if you weren’t too concerned prior to |
| The ADHD checklist for children includes the following | | | | reading this list of ADHD symptoms, I would bet |
| points – as most ADHD sufferers tend to be male | | | | money on you being worried now. |
| – I have used him for ease:a) A child who is always | | | | |