| I have a friend at work that has a grandson that has | | | | constantly, they just won't stay still. This can often be a |
| been diagnosed with child attention deficit disorder. | | | | nightmare for parents of children suffering from ADHD |
| After chatting with her about it for a while I began to | | | | because the child doesn't need much sleep either. |
| wonder how it is possible to tell the difference | | | | Imagine what it would be like to have a child that hardly |
| between someone with ADD and someone who is | | | | ever sleeps and is constantly jumping around when |
| just plain difficult. It seems to be most difficult to tell | | | | they are awake which will be most of the time.If you |
| with boys under 17 years of age because they tend to | | | | are wondering whether a child with ADD will eventually |
| progress slower than the girls anyway. My | | | | grow out of it then I'm afraid the answer is no. ADD |
| grandmother used to be the head teacher of a | | | | and ADHD are manifestations of physical problems |
| primary school and she was quite certain that boys | | | | within the brain so it isn't likely to change with age. The |
| didn't develop intellectually anything like as quickly as | | | | disorder can be passed on genetically but bad discipline |
| the girls.My interest raised, I decided to investigate | | | | or poor parenting can't cause it.How To Treat |
| further. It appears that there are three stages in normal | | | | Attention Deficit Disorder:Children can receive |
| development. The first stage can be seen in babies | | | | medication and therapy that helps to overcome the |
| when they become focused on one thing for a period | | | | disorder, if it is diagnosed early enough. The problem is |
| of time and ignore everything else. A child whose | | | | diagnosing the extent to which someone requires help, |
| development stops at this stage might have a | | | | as the spectrum is very wide. Most experts seem to |
| tendency towards autism.The second stage is when a | | | | recommend a treatment combining medication and |
| toddler is constantly finding different things of interest | | | | psychotherapy. Psychostimulants such as 'Ritalin' and |
| but never able to concentrate on one thing for very | | | | 'Dexedrine' help to improve the sluggish part of the |
| long. A child who is stuck at this stage of development | | | | brain causing the problems. Psychotherapy helps to |
| might be diagnosed as having attention deficit | | | | train ADD sufferers to pay attention, control impulses |
| disorder.At stage three children's abilities mature to the | | | | and behave appropriately in all sorts of situations.Diet |
| point where they can focus their attention for longer | | | | can also be very important in ADD treatment. Some |
| periods and control where and when they change their | | | | children have bad reactions to certain foods like wheat, |
| attention and activity. This is the level of concentration | | | | chocolate, fruit, dairy products and additives. Additives |
| that the child will need to make their classroom | | | | can be particularly problematic in this respect and a |
| experiences a successful one.My friend says that | | | | potential link between them and ADD and ADHD has |
| ADD isn't just about an inability to concentrate for very | | | | now been discovered.People suffering from ADD |
| long. People with Attention Deficit Disorder aren't able | | | | have been found to be lacking in fatty acids Omega 3 |
| to choose when or where to pay attention or when to | | | | and Omega 6. There is a theory that proper mental |
| stop. She told me that when her grandson crosses the | | | | function growth is critically dependent on these fatty |
| road, even though he has been taught over and over | | | | acids. There is no conclusive evidence of this but an |
| how to do it safely, if he has to wait for traffic then he | | | | appropriate change in diet might well be worth a try. |
| would suddenly go no matter what the traffic is doing. | | | | Omega 3 is found in fish like mackerel and salmon and |
| There is never any warning that he is going to do this; | | | | in flax oil. Safflower oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, |
| he just knows that he needs to cross so off he | | | | margarine, sunflower oil and corn oil all contain Omega |
| goes.The other side of the Attention Deficit Disorder | | | | 6.There is a more positive side to ADD. During my |
| equation is the ability to focus intensely on an activity | | | | research I found a lot of opinion that some of the most |
| to the exclusion of everything else, including breaks. | | | | famous people from history appeared to exhibit |
| The ADD sufferer might watch the same movie over | | | | symptoms of ADD. The list of suggestions is quite long |
| and over or complete the same jigsaw time and time | | | | but it includes people like Mozart, Pasteur, Einstein and |
| again. Some people say that if this behaviour isn't | | | | Beethoven. It appears that some of the characteristic |
| recognised and treated as early as possible then it | | | | symptoms of ADD can lead to outstanding |
| could lead to overeating, substance abuse or | | | | performance so take good care of your ADD child |
| compulsive behaviour.ADHD or Attention Deficit | | | | because they might be a genius.Steve is a software |
| Hyperactivity Disorder is a variation of Attention Deficit | | | | engineer and contributes to What Is Attention Deficit |
| Disorder or ADD. People that suffer from this problem | | | | Disorder Please take a look at the articles and |
| seem to be unable to relax or are constantly on the | | | | information on the web site. |
| go. When seated they might be squirming or fiddling | | | | |