| I have a friend at work that has a grandson | | | | fiddling constantly, they just won't stay |
| that has been diagnosed with child attention | | | | still. This can often be a nightmare for |
| deficit disorder. After chatting with her | | | | parents of children suffering from ADHD |
| about it for a while I began to wonder how it | | | | because the child doesn't need much sleep |
| is possible to tell the difference between | | | | either. Imagine what it would be like to have |
| someone with ADD and someone who is just | | | | a child that hardly ever sleeps and is |
| plain difficult. It seems to be most | | | | constantly jumping around when they are awake |
| difficult to tell with boys under 17 years of | | | | which will be most of the time.If you are |
| age because they tend to progress slower than | | | | wondering whether a child with ADD will |
| the girls anyway. My grandmother used to be | | | | eventually grow out of it then I'm afraid the |
| the head teacher of a primary school and she | | | | answer is no. ADD and ADHD are manifestations |
| was quite certain that boys didn't develop | | | | of physical problems within the brain so it |
| intellectually anything like as quickly as | | | | isn't likely to change with age. The disorder |
| the girls.My interest raised, I decided to | | | | can be passed on genetically but bad |
| investigate further. It appears that there | | | | discipline or poor parenting can't cause |
| are three stages in normal development. The | | | | it.How To Treat Attention Deficit |
| first stage can be seen in babies when they | | | | Disorder:Children can receive medication and |
| become focused on one thing for a period of | | | | therapy that helps to overcome the disorder, |
| time and ignore everything else. A child | | | | if it is diagnosed early enough. The problem |
| whose development stops at this stage might | | | | is diagnosing the extent to which someone |
| have a tendency towards autism.The second | | | | requires help, as the spectrum is very wide. |
| stage is when a toddler is constantly finding | | | | Most experts seem to recommend a treatment |
| different things of interest but never able | | | | combining medication and psychotherapy. |
| to concentrate on one thing for very long. A | | | | Psychostimulants such as 'Ritalin' and |
| child who is stuck at this stage of | | | | 'Dexedrine' help to improve the sluggish part |
| development might be diagnosed as having | | | | of the brain causing the problems. |
| attention deficit disorder.At stage three | | | | Psychotherapy helps to train ADD sufferers to |
| children's abilities mature to the point | | | | pay attention, control impulses and behave |
| where they can focus their attention for | | | | appropriately in all sorts of situations.Diet |
| longer periods and control where and when | | | | can also be very important in ADD treatment. |
| they change their attention and activity. | | | | Some children have bad reactions to certain |
| This is the level of concentration that the | | | | foods like wheat, chocolate, fruit, dairy |
| child will need to make their classroom | | | | products and additives. Additives can be |
| experiences a successful one.My friend says | | | | particularly problematic in this respect and |
| that ADD isn't just about an inability to | | | | a potential link between them and ADD and |
| concentrate for very long. People with | | | | ADHD has now been discovered.People suffering |
| Attention Deficit Disorder aren't able to | | | | from ADD have been found to be lacking in |
| choose when or where to pay attention or when | | | | fatty acids Omega 3 and Omega 6. There is a |
| to stop. She told me that when her grandson | | | | theory that proper mental function growth is |
| crosses the road, even though he has been | | | | critically dependent on these fatty acids. |
| taught over and over how to do it safely, if | | | | There is no conclusive evidence of this but |
| he has to wait for traffic then he would | | | | an appropriate change in diet might well be |
| suddenly go no matter what the traffic is | | | | worth a try. Omega 3 is found in fish like |
| doing. There is never any warning that he is | | | | mackerel and salmon and in flax oil. |
| going to do this; he just knows that he needs | | | | Safflower oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, |
| to cross so off he goes.The other side of the | | | | margarine, sunflower oil and corn oil all |
| Attention Deficit Disorder equation is the | | | | contain Omega 6.There is a more positive side |
| ability to focus intensely on an activity to | | | | to ADD. During my research I found a lot of |
| the exclusion of everything else, including | | | | opinion that some of the most famous people |
| breaks. The ADD sufferer might watch the same | | | | from history appeared to exhibit symptoms of |
| movie over and over or complete the same | | | | ADD. The list of suggestions is quite long |
| jigsaw time and time again. Some people say | | | | but it includes people like Mozart, Pasteur, |
| that if this behaviour isn't recognised and | | | | Einstein and Beethoven. It appears that some |
| treated as early as possible then it could | | | | of the characteristic symptoms of ADD can |
| lead to overeating, substance abuse or | | | | lead to outstanding performance so take good |
| compulsive behaviour.ADHD or Attention | | | | care of your ADD child because they might be |
| Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a variation | | | | a genius.Steve is a software engineer and |
| of Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD. People | | | | contributes to What Is Attention Deficit |
| that suffer from this problem seem to be | | | | Disorder Please take a look at the articles |
| unable to relax or are constantly on the go. | | | | and information on the web site. |
| When seated they might be squirming or | | | | |