| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( | | | | A child who is always restless and always |
| previously known as ADD or ADHD) as a disease | | | | raring to go.b) He does not listen and pays |
| is rapidly gaining ground. The number of | | | | no heed to his parents or to his teachers.c) |
| people suffering from this disease, | | | | He lacks the ability to concentrate even for |
| especially children and youngsters is rising | | | | a short span of time.d) He is extremely |
| rapidly. Some medical praticitioners insist | | | | fidgety, restless and unable to sit still.e) |
| that the rise in cases is a direct result of | | | | A child/ youngster suffering from ADHD takes |
| better education and thus early diagnosis. | | | | risks easily and does not consider the |
| Other medical practicitioners will have you | | | | consequences of his actions.f) He can be very |
| believe that the rise in the number of ADHD | | | | talkative and blurts out everything.g) A |
| diagnosed suffers is due to increasing levels | | | | person suffering from ADHD can be easily |
| of toxins and pollutants in our air and food. | | | | distracted and thus finds it difficult to |
| | | | complete any tasks assigned to him. |
| With the medical profession arguing amongst | | | | |
| itself as to the causes and cures of this | | | | It is hopefully apparent now why so many |
| illness what is the average parent to do. | | | | children are misdiagnosed - either as having |
| The first step is probably one of education | | | | the illness when they don't or not having it |
| i.e. parents must educate themselves as to | | | | when they do. What parent can honestly say |
| the nature of this illness and the first | | | | that their own child wouldn't fall into many |
| place to start is the symptoms. | | | | if not all of the above categories at some |
| | | | stage in the parenting cycle? |
| ADHD Checklist of possible symptoms: | | | | |
| | | | The official ADHD checklist for adults |
| The ADHD Checklist is mainly an instrument in | | | | includes the following points:a) An adult can |
| determining the exact nature, degree and the | | | | suffer from ADHD if he has suffered from |
| impact of the disease on an individual. | | | | hyperactivity and restlessness in his |
| However please don't be surprised if your | | | | childhood.b) Any Adult suffering from the |
| initial reaction to this list is to think but | | | | symptoms described above in the children's |
| this describes most children - that was my | | | | section.c) An adult suffering from ADHD shows |
| reaction too. And this is a huge problem | | | | inconsistent performance, decreasing work |
| with ADHD and similar illnesses. There are | | | | productivity and incomplete projects.d) Also |
| no "medical" tests - well certainly not free | | | | such individuals get frustrated very easily |
| available ones so the diagnosis of ADHD is | | | | and show signs of nervousness and |
| subjective - it is based on opinions - that | | | | hypertension.e) Adult ADHD sufferers can find |
| of the parents, the medical practitioner, the | | | | it extremely difficult to maintain close and |
| child's teacher etc. It goes some way to | | | | intimate relationships.f) They are constantly |
| explaining why a child badly affected by ADHD | | | | in search of activities that stimulate |
| who has a saint for a mother and an angel for | | | | them.g) They also suffer from bouts of |
| a teacher is less likely to be diagnosed than | | | | depression and low energy levels.h) They lack |
| a child who may be less affected by their | | | | organizational skills and planning. |
| "adhd" but has a stressed out mother and | | | | |
| overworked teacher. (I think my child may | | | | Whilst the above checklists may provide you |
| have suffered as a result of having a | | | | with a list of the ADHD symptoms - has this |
| stressed out working mother who was on | | | | list solved any of your worries or concerns? |
| antidepressants and struggling to cope!) | | | | I would suspect the answer to that question |
| | | | is no - if you were worried previously then |
| What does the ADHD Checklist Include? | | | | you are possibly even more concerned now. |
| | | | And if you weren't too concerned prior to |
| The ADHD checklist for children includes the | | | | reading this list of ADHD symptoms, I would |
| following points - as most ADHD sufferers | | | | bet money on you being worried now. |
| tend to be male - I have used him for ease:a) | | | | |