| Description | | | | Doesn't appear to listen to others when they speak |
| A few decades ago, a child who couldn't sit still and | | | | Often talks excessively |
| wouldn't pay attention in class was called "hyper," or | | | | Frequently loses things |
| worse, a "problem child." Today, the same youngster | | | | Difficulty following directions |
| might be diagnosed with attention deficit disorder | | | | Shifts from one unfinished task to another |
| (ADD), also known as attention deficit hyperactivity | | | | Inability to play or sit quietly |
| disorder(ADHD). The condition basically describes a | | | | Impulsive personality |
| person's inability to concentrate-on sitting still, on a | | | | Inability to organize thoughts, toys, work space |
| lesson given in class, on reading a book, on what | | | | Conventional Medical Treatment |
| someone else is saying, and so on. Demanding that a | | | | If left untreated, ADD can isolate a sufferer, whose |
| person with ADD pay attention will not work, nor will | | | | behavior may unintentionally frighten people. There is |
| punishment. It's not known exactly why a person with | | | | also a connection between untreated attention deficit |
| ADD has such difficulty focusing. | | | | disorder and parental abuse, failure at school, and low |
| The cause of ADD is also unknown. Prominent | | | | selfesteem. Thus, if you suspect that you or your child |
| theories include heredity, lead poisoning, allergies to | | | | may have attention deficit disorder, a trip to your |
| food additives, brain injuries incurred by the child during | | | | physician is in order. To arrive at a diagnosis of ADD, |
| the mother's pregnancy (perhaps the mother was in | | | | your doctor conducts a series of physical and |
| an accident, smoked cigarettes, or used drugs or | | | | neurological examinations as well as behavioral |
| alcohol), oxygen deprivation during birth, or head trauma | | | | observation. The doctor also requests a detailed |
| as an infant. ADD affects many more males than | | | | history of early childhood development. Treatment for |
| females. | | | | ADD includes behavior modification techniques, |
| ADD typically appears before the age of seven; | | | | avoiding overstimulation, providing a consistent daily |
| however, it isn't limited to children. Some children do | | | | routine, and avoiding sugar and food additives, which |
| outgrow it, but many more do not, meaning many | | | | are believed to contribute to hyperactivity. In more |
| adults are afflicted with the disorder. | | | | severe cases, a drug may be prescribed to help |
| Signs and Symptoms | | | | reduce hyperactivity. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is the |
| Difficulty sustaining attention | | | | most common of these, but pemoline (Cylert) is also |
| Easily distracted | | | | used. These medications decrease motor activity and |
| Fidgeting and physical restlessness | | | | increase attention span in children. Side effects, such |
| Has difficulty allowing others to speak without | | | | as insomnia and weight loss, are rare. |
| interrupting | | | | |