| Studies have shown that Attention Deficit | | | | because it makes it more difficult to treat |
| Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit | | | | without causing negative impacts in other |
| Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are increasing | | | | areas of the afflicted person. Again, this |
| at an alarming rate. Some think that it is | | | | is what the most recent studies have |
| because it is not really rising but that it | | | | indicated, although there is still |
| is gaining more visibility with better tools | | | | disagreement on this since there are no |
| and methods to detect it, but doctors | | | | medical tests available to definitively test |
| disagree, saying that the number of | | | | such a broadly defined area. |
| identified incidents is definitely on the | | | | |
| rise. | | | | Signs of ADD and ADHD would include: |
| | | | |
| In the past couple of decades, doctors and | | | | Inattentiveness. The child affected by |
| professionals have been working hard to find | | | | Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention |
| alternatives treatments for this disorder. | | | | Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is clearly |
| Many parents, as well as doctors, are | | | | inattentive to a greater degree than a normal |
| reluctant to simply treat the disorder with | | | | child would be inattentive. The affected |
| drugs and other stimulant medications, and | | | | child is not able to concentrate or focus on |
| have been looking for effective alternatives, | | | | a particular activity or thing for longer |
| including researching possible natural | | | | periods of time. Sometimes part of the |
| remedies, where some herbal remedies are | | | | problem is thought to be having a lack of |
| showing a lot of promise without the harmful | | | | flexibility with attention focus. This can |
| and often undesirable side effects. It is | | | | (although not necessarily always) create a |
| clear that alternative treatments for ADD and | | | | need for the child to have special |
| ADHD need to be researched and developed. | | | | educational needs. |
| | | | |
| Studies have shown stark contrasts when the | | | | Forgetfulness. The child affected by ADD or |
| EEG of non-ADD children are compared with | | | | ADHD will frequently forget things they have |
| those of children diagnosed with Attention | | | | just learned or have just been taught. A |
| Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit | | | | particular place where this is noted is with |
| Hyperactivity Disorder. The affected | | | | teenagers who are diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, |
| children show in a statistically significant | | | | who are about 400% more likely to contract a |
| way that they show excessively slow brainwave | | | | sexually transmitted disease. Doctors |
| activity, particularly in the alpha and theta | | | | attribute this to the fact that teenagers |
| ranges) than non-affected children. The end | | | | forget about the dangers of unprotected sex |
| result is that this slowdown tends to affect | | | | due to their inability to focus. |
| the child's emotional and frequently also | | | | |
| physical maturity levels. | | | | There are other symptoms, but a concrete |
| | | | diagnosis should be left to professionals |
| It can be stated as fact that Attention | | | | since the various symptoms, which are much |
| Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit | | | | more than those listed here, can also |
| Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are | | | | indicate other disorders, where treatment |
| neurological conditions. For many years this | | | | options would be very different. |
| diagnosis was disputed in the medical | | | | |
| community, but more and more professionals | | | | The bottom line is that understanding the |
| have come to realize that based on what we | | | | affliction and early diagnosis are keys to |
| know about the affliction today, this is | | | | helping the afflicted person cope with and |
| indeed fact, which compounds the problem | | | | deal with this disorder. |