| Attention deficit disorder (abbreviated as ADD) is a | | | | celebrities' children are diagnosed with such a disorder. |
| syndrome exhibited usually by children aged seven | | | | As the awareness over attention deficit disorder |
| years and below. The disorder is characterized by the | | | | increases, so does the actual volume. That may be |
| child's persistent impulsiveness, hyperactivity and very | | | | one reason why many parents are suspecting that |
| short attention span. | | | | their children may be affected by this disorder, surging |
| The name attention deficit disorder has been widely | | | | the number of reported cases. |
| used to refer to the disorder, but in 1994, researchers, | | | | Causes of attention deficit disorder |
| experts and psychologists reached a consensus to | | | | Early studies suggest that attention deficit disorder can |
| use attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder to refer to | | | | be linked to biological disturbances. The disorder may |
| the condition. In this article, attention deficit disorder | | | | be linked to brain development problems that occurred |
| would be used to refer to this neurological disorder. | | | | while the child was in his development years. Some |
| Attention deficit disorder is not a disease. Many | | | | assert that mild defects to the child's brain during birth |
| parents wrongly take the condition as an ailment, but in | | | | may be blamed for attention deficit disorder's onset. |
| fact, the condition is just a behavioral disorder. Many | | | | Genetic links are still being considered. Several |
| studies have been conducted to pin down its cause, | | | | research efforts indicate that most of the children |
| but up to this day, no concrete reason is yet | | | | diagnosed with attention deficit disorder come from |
| established to explain the occurrence of the situation. | | | | families with several members who also experienced |
| It is estimated that about 3% to 5% of the United | | | | the disorder. Although there is still no concrete |
| States population is affected by this behavioral | | | | evidence to back this assertion, some experts readily |
| disorder. Because most of attention deficit disorder | | | | accept this as a viable explanation. |
| patients are kids aged four years old and above, | | | | Physiological observations also indicate that attention |
| people associate the disorder to young age. | | | | deficit disorder is present mostly in children whose |
| It is estimated that globally, about 8% to 10% of | | | | brain sizes are about 5% to 10% smaller than the |
| school-age children are affected by this behavioral | | | | average. Possibly, chemical reactions and changes |
| condition. What is more interesting is that based on | | | | involving neurons in the brain region can also cause the |
| statistics and reported cases, boys are more prone to | | | | disorder. |
| be diagnosed with the condition. The number of girls | | | | One interesting idea studies are also looking at is the |
| with attention deficit disorder is really less compared to | | | | relationship between attention deficit disorder and |
| boys. | | | | excessive watching of television among very young |
| But there are reported cases of young adults and | | | | kids. Thus, experts advise parents not expose children |
| even adults that exhibit the manifestations of attention | | | | under the age of two years to television. |
| deficit disorder. It is assumed that these adults have | | | | Lastly, some experts cite the mother's pregnancy |
| retained the attention deficit disorder from their | | | | condition for the onset of attention deficit disorder. It |
| childhood. | | | | has been initially found that moms who still smoked |
| Awareness | | | | during their pregnant months tend to have children that |
| Studies over attention deficit disorder are yet to | | | | exhibit attention deficit disorder symptoms. Premature |
| establish the real causes of this behavioral condition. | | | | birth is also looked at. |
| The scientific community treats attention deficit | | | | Medications |
| disorder as a very young medical or mental case that | | | | No definite medication is yet identified or developed to |
| is yet to be given full-scale research attention. | | | | specifically treat children with attention deficit disorder. |
| But because through the years, the number of patients | | | | However, there are several drugs that are |
| diagnosed with attention deficit disorder is on a | | | | administered and prescribed to such children, although |
| constant rise, the global scientific community is started | | | | doctors remind parents that the treatments are not |
| to become alarmed. Statistics show that although the | | | | directly curing the condition. |
| volume of patients with attention deficit disorder | | | | Many children diagnosed with attention deficit disorder |
| worldwide is still modest, it is growing rapidly. | | | | tend to outgrow the condition as they grow up and |
| Attention deficit disorder is becoming more common | | | | mature. Thus, it is important that parents know how to |
| nowadays. Children from all sorts of families, wealthy, | | | | handle the situation well. Their patience and |
| average or poverty-stricken, are becoming increasingly | | | | understanding may be the only effective treatment |
| exposed to this condition. Even some famous | | | | there is, for now. |