| With bouts of inattentiveness, impulsive behavior, and | | | | may often lose important items, such as books, pencils, |
| hyperactivity, millions of children in the United States | | | | and even their toys. Attention deficit disorder patients |
| are plagued by attention deficit disorder. The chronic | | | | also lack sufficient organizational skills, become easily |
| disorder, which is also commonly referred to as ADD | | | | distracted, or often forget important details. |
| or ADHD, has the potential to continue on into | | | | With attention deficit disorder, it is important to |
| adulthood, where issues of self-esteem, strained | | | | approach a diagnosis regarding the condition with |
| interaction with others, and poor performance in school | | | | caution since a mis-diagnosis may cause unnecessary |
| or work often takes place. | | | | medication. This type of error often masks underlying |
| No one knows exactly why attention deficit disorder | | | | problems the child is experiencing with their parents |
| strikes some children, but researchers have their | | | | and teachers. When a child exhibits the warning signs |
| theories. Some believe the issue begins during the | | | | of ADD, it is important to get immediate help for the |
| growth and development inside the womb, while | | | | problem because the condition is known to increase |
| others feel heavy drug use and a lower | | | | the risk of drug and alcohol abuse, injury, car accidents |
| socio-economic status play an important role. Many | | | | in teenagers, poor grades, depression, and a |
| cases of ADD often points towards biological | | | | heightened sense of anxiety. |
| inconsistencies, where the genes that control the levels | | | | When it comes to finding the most effective treatment |
| of chemicals in the brain (neurotransmitters) are | | | | for children affected with attention deficit disorder, |
| different in ADD patients than in other children. | | | | there are numerous approaches to consider, many of |
| When diagnosing attention deficit disorder, it is the signs | | | | which stir a wide range of debates and controversy. |
| and symptoms that become very important because | | | | Since attention deficit disorder is a condition that mostly |
| most doctors are reluctant to confirm ADD until a child | | | | surfaces when an individual is young, the touchy |
| showcases what they believe to be the core | | | | subject of medication and experimental techniques has |
| symptoms of the condition. These signs appear early | | | | often overshadowed the age of the patient. |
| in the child's life, which eventually become an ongoing | | | | To date, many children are treated with the use of |
| part of their behavioral patterns. It is through these | | | | psycho-stimulant drugs and other types of prescribed |
| symptoms that they suffer continuous problems that | | | | medications, which relieve the majority of symptoms |
| surface at home and at school. | | | | associated with attention deficit disorder, but fail to |
| A doctor may come to the conclusion that a child has | | | | cure the condition. In regards to age, a lot of parents |
| attention deficit disorder if they show six or more signs | | | | are hesitant to treat their children with prescription |
| or symptoms for a period of at least six months. The | | | | drugs and opt for counseling, special concessions |
| common symptoms may arise around the age of | | | | within the classroom, family and community support, |
| seven, although it is not uncommon to see the signs at | | | | which other parents include with the use of various |
| a much earlier age. It is important to note that the signs | | | | medications. |
| needs to be consistent, since it is relatively normal for a | | | | Some of the best treatments also start at home with |
| child to occasionally shows signs of inattentiveness. | | | | a wide range of self-care methods that include |
| A child with ADD may often fail to pay close attention | | | | extreme patience and support. Many children with |
| to the details regarding school activities. Consistent | | | | attention deficit disorder also greatly benefit from |
| careless mistakes in work may follow. A child may | | | | therapy sessions with a psychiatrist, psychologist, or |
| often have trouble paying attention during playtime or | | | | social worker. They may undergo social skills training or |
| when completing simple tasks. A child may seem to | | | | find comfort in a support group with other parents and |
| not listen when directly spoken to. Children with | | | | children with ADD. Some doctors also suggest that a |
| attention deficit disorder often avoid tasks that cause | | | | combination of therapy and medication is the best |
| them to think or focus for long stretches of time. They | | | | approach. |