| ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is the | | | | developmentally inappropriate diagnostic criteria, |
| most common psychiactric disorder among children. It | | | | comorbidities and the possibility that situational factors |
| affects 3 to 5% of the worlds children. The | | | | and high intelligence can mask the symptoms. |
| characteristics of ADHD include a pattern of persistent | | | | Thom Hartmann proposed a theory called hunter vs. |
| impulsiveness and failure to pay attention. It can also | | | | farmer. He believes that ADHD is simply an adaptive |
| include periods of hyperactivity, but this is not always | | | | behavior exclusive to the human species. According to |
| the case. | | | | his theory the people with ADHD have retained some |
| ADHD is also believed to occur in adults. It is estimated | | | | of the "hunter" characteristics that were more |
| that 4% of adults (8 million in the United States) suffer | | | | commonly used before agriculture took over society. |
| from this disorder. In fact, 50% of those diagnosed with | | | | The social construct theory is observed by Thomas |
| childhood ADHD are likely to suffer from the same | | | | Szasz, among others. These theorists believe that |
| symptoms as an adult. | | | | ADHD is a condition that was invented by the scientific |
| The symptoms of ADHD are often dealt with by using | | | | community. Not something that was discovered as |
| alcohol or non-prescribed drugs. Adults are likely to | | | | many doctors and scientists will have you believe. |
| develop other coping mechanisms to deal with it | | | | The low arousal theory claims that people with ADHD |
| though it is recommended that professional help from | | | | symptoms simply seek excessive activity or self |
| a psychiactrist is seeked out. | | | | stimulation to bring their state of abnormally low |
| Since the 1970's the treatment and diagnosis of ADHD | | | | arousal to a higher level. Their attention can only be |
| has been controversial. These controversies have | | | | gained from stimulus in the environment. For example, |
| been between teachers, clinicians. parents, | | | | a child with ADHD will create stimulation by doing |
| policymakers and media. Their opinions range from not | | | | something such as talking, fidgeting or walking around. |
| believing it exists to believing that there are | | | | This will fulfill his/her needs for enhanced stimuli. |
| physiological and genetic bases for it. There is also | | | | Among doctors the support for ADHD being a |
| general disagreement about whether it is okay to use | | | | treatable psychological disorder is overwhelming. There |
| stimulant prescriptions to treat it in children. | | | | are many medications that are used to effectively |
| There is also controversy specifically concerning adult | | | | treat ADHD as well as natural supplements. ADHD |
| ADHD. Many experts believe it does not persist into | | | | can make life extremely difficult so rather than using |
| adulthood. It was first considered to occur in adults in | | | | illegal drugs or alcohol to self medicate I recommend |
| 1978. Clinicians face many challenges when diagnosing | | | | you seek help from your doctor or a psychiactrist. |
| adults. These include age-related changes, | | | | |