| Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD is most commonly | | | | playing computer games, it is no wonder many children |
| found in boys of elementary school age. Symptoms | | | | have energy to burn. |
| include inattention, fidgeting, impulsive behavior, or lack | | | | ADD behavior is often indicative of creativity, |
| of focus. But what causes these symptoms, really? | | | | giftedness, high intelligence, and a child being a visual |
| And should all cases of ADD be medicated? | | | | thinker. |
| In some cases, the symptoms of ADD may actually | | | | In short, a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder should |
| be indicative of a more serious psychological problem, | | | | be considered a start, not an end. Too often, when |
| such as bipolar disorder, depression, brain defects and | | | | doctors see a child is hyperactive or has a short |
| even anxiety. However, sometimes the cause of the | | | | attention span, they write a prescription for Ritalin or |
| inattentive behavior may only be allergies, | | | | Dexedrine and call it a day. But these drugs have |
| environmental sensitivities, nutritional deficiencies or | | | | potentially harmful side-effects, and are not necessarily |
| even too much caffeine. | | | | going to fix the problem at all. |
| Often, young boys are misdiagnosed with Attention | | | | A more thorough investigation of the cause usually |
| Deficit Disorder simply for behaving the way anyone | | | | falls upon the child's parents. The information presented |
| would expect. Young boys usually will make impulsive | | | | here is intended to guide parents in the right direction, |
| decisions, have a lot of extra energy, cannot sit still, | | | | giving suggestions of where to start looking for the |
| and have shortattention spans in school. Compounded | | | | cause of the child's Attention Deficit Disorder |
| with the fact that most school age children spend | | | | associated behavior. |
| more than forty hours a week watching TV and | | | | |