| Attention Deficit Disorder is a neurological dysfunction | | | | about 30% or more behind their peers in their ability to |
| but your best chances of coping with it and making it | | | | self-manage, self-control, organize, and plan for the |
| better for the afflicted child (or adult) is an early | | | | future. One of the problems with this is that parents |
| diagnosis. Learn to identify the signs of ADD and | | | | need to realize that this 30% is not made up for in total |
| ADHD and be aware of a consistent display of these | | | | as the child continues to develop unless treatment and |
| symptoms. Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD, | | | | accommodations for the ailment can be provided. |
| sometimes also referred to as Attention Deficit | | | | ADD and ADHD afflictions are not limited to children, |
| Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD needs to be | | | | even though that is the most common place it is seen. |
| diagnosed as early as possible to provide treatment | | | | But consider also that ADD rarely comes on suddenly, |
| and even a possible cure for the afflicted person. But | | | | so an adult who is diagnosed with ADD very likely had |
| in reality, the diagnosis of ADD should be considered a | | | | ADD as a child and was never diagnosed with it. In the |
| start to the process, not an end. ADD is a neurological | | | | adult, the symptoms of ADD/ADHD are often |
| dysfunction and at this point in time, there are no | | | | disruptive, though it is not intentional disruption. One of |
| studies that can conclusively report that there is a cure. | | | | the signs of ADD/ADHD in adults as well as children is |
| To a certain extent, diagnosis of ADD or ADHD is | | | | that anxiety is amplified. Given a situation that might |
| almost subjective and a matter of opinion, but even so, | | | | cause one to feel anxiety, the anxiety level in the ADD |
| it really is a disease or a dysfunction, although some | | | | ADHD patient is at an even greater level. |
| people (typically children) have it more severely than | | | | Unfortunately, Attention Deficit Disorder and its closely |
| others. The diagnosis of ADD is never simple and | | | | related cousin Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder |
| typically requires a thorough investigation into the | | | | are complex conditions that are not well understood |
| possible causes of it. There are almost always | | | | by the scientific or medical community today. But |
| external factors that play a large role in ADD, and | | | | studies continue and new information is being learned |
| medication will never be the sole cure or sole | | | | about this affliction all the time. While it is known that |
| treatment of it. Attention Deficit Disorder usually begins | | | | ADD and ADHD are neurological disorders, tests and |
| early in childhood when a child first begins to develop | | | | studies are being done to determine what part of the |
| their verbal speech and language skills. Experts in this | | | | brain or nervous system is affected most, and if there |
| field have a very strong theory that the ADD/ADHD | | | | are medications that can reliably treat this without |
| child is for some reason being delayed in their | | | | causing even more severe side effects. The best thing |
| development of self-control and self-regulation, and | | | | you can do is to get an early diagnosis by a trained |
| they will get extremely frustrated with their inability to | | | | medical professional for ADD. They can evaluate the |
| adequately communicate. To be more concise, the | | | | severity of the affliction and make sound |
| ADD/ADHD child is unable to stop and think before | | | | recommendations as to how to work with the afflicted |
| responding to a situational demand or requirement. | | | | patient and steps you should take for them to give |
| Some studies indicate that the ADD/ADHD child is | | | | them the best chance of success as they grow older. |