| ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can | | | | show up over months. Regardless, if you have a child |
| affect both children and adults although it has become | | | | that is displaying any of the signs, you should have him |
| increasingly more associated with children. For | | | | or her examined by a reputable doctor, someone who |
| individuals with ADHD, controlling behavior and focusing | | | | deals specifically with ADHD. |
| is near impossible. Today, experts estimate that | | | | Chances are that the doctor will place your child on |
| between 3% and 5% of all school-age children have | | | | medicine, which can make a huge difference in the |
| ADHD, which is about two million in the United States | | | | child's behavior and ability to cope. The most common |
| alone. For the child, school becomes a place of | | | | types of medication used include Adderall, Concerta, |
| torment while for the teacher, a time of frustration. | | | | Dexedrine, Focalin, Metadate ER, and Ritalin. In addition, |
| Although ADHD was first described in 1845 by Dr. | | | | the Food and Drug Administration has also recently |
| Heinrich Hoffman, it was not until 1902 when it was | | | | approved another type of medicine called Strattera or |
| identified by Sir George F. Still. For years, a real | | | | Atomoxetine. (Some alternative therapies such as pine |
| misunderstanding surrounded ADHD. In fact, most | | | | bark extract and biofeedback are starting to gain |
| parents simply thought they had a hyperactive child | | | | ground with those concerned parents who do not |
| who had eaten too much sugar or from bad parenting. | | | | want to go the pharmaceutical route.) Many times, this |
| However, we know today that ADHD is actually linked | | | | medicine coupled with the right type of therapy shows |
| to a genetic dysfunction. The good news is that having | | | | tremendous improvement in the child. |
| a better understanding of ADHD means having a | | | | Then, when you add the medicine and therapy in with |
| better chance through medicine and therapy of | | | | teachers and parents that understand ADHD and can |
| overcoming the symptoms. | | | | work together for the sake of the child, you would |
| Typically, a person with ADHD would show signs of | | | | expect to see even better results. Just remember, |
| hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattention, and sometimes, | | | | working with ADHD is not an instant fix but with |
| outburst of anger from the high level of frustration. | | | | persistency and the right tools together, the child can |
| While some children will have symptoms appear quite | | | | go on to live a perfectly normal life. |
| suddenly, it is more common for the symptoms to | | | | |