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ADHDABCMD definition of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A medical illness that causes children (and some adults) to experience a
variety of symptoms including over-activity, distractibility, impulsiveness
and inattentiveness, etc.
Background on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):
ADHD is a very common mental disorder that is believed to affect around 5 to
10% of all school-aged children (5 years+). That means out of every 100 3rd
graders, around 5 to 10 have ADHD. This mental disorder is much more often
a problem in boys as they outnumber girls around 3 to 1. Children with this
disorder are your true "active child" as they are commonly overactive,
distractible and innatentive. More often then not, these kids are
hyperactive at a very early age as many parents often say "as soon as he/she
could crawl, they got into everything!" As you can imagine, ADHD can be
major problem for children in terms of school performance as they have
trouble paying attention. Not to mention it is often very stressful to the
parents, teachers and classmates involved in the child's life.
It is important to note that ADHD, like all mental illness, should be
thought of as a disease and not something that should not happen to a
"normal child." Any child can develop ADHD, just as they could cancer or
diabetes. You should not feel ashamed and avoid getting treatment, but
rather should look at ADHD as a medical illness and something you can get
your child help for.
What causes Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): The bottom line
before you get to into this paragraph is the exact cause of a child
developing ADHD is unknown at this time.
What is known is that:
1) ADHD runs in families: This means children with ADHD
often have a parent and even other brothers and sisters who had ADHD as
well.
2) ADHD can be found with other mental illnesses: ADHD
seems to be present more often in children with other mental diseases such
as depression or learning disorders. However, ADHD can certainly be found
alone without these other diseases.
3) Parents may play a role: Young and in-experienced
parents are more likely to have a child with ADHD. Some people believe
that younger parents have more uncertainty with their parenting skills and
have trouble controlling their child's hyperactive behavior (If you don't
teach your child how to slow down and pay attention, they never will).
Mother's actions during pregnancy can also play a role as it has been found
that children born to a mother who drank a lot alcohol when she was pregnant
(Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) are more likely to have ADHD.
4) Changes in the Brain are often seen:
a. It has also been found that children with ADHD are more likely to have
an abnormal signaling system in their brains when compared to children
without ADHD. There are chemicals in the human brain called
neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are simply the signals one part of your
brains uses to talk with another part of your brain (Think of
neurotransmitters as letters you send in the mail...only these letters get
there much faster). One of these signals that is involved in pleasure and
behavior control is called Dopamine. In ADHD, it has been found that the
part of the child's brain that receives this message (the mailbox) does not
work. The Dopamine (letter) was sent as it should have been, but it cannot
be delivered and tell the other part of the brain the message it needed to.
In medicine we call this a "receptor mutation." These receptor mutations
are found in around half of children diagnosed with ADHD.
b. Doctors have also found that children with ADHD can have a smaller
part of the brain called the pre-frontal cortex. This is simply the part of
the brain that is in control of things like working memory, making and
carrying out a plan, multitasking and organizing thoughts.
How is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosed?
ADHD has 2 basic types of symptoms 1) Difficulty focusing and paying
attention 2) Hyperactivity and impulsivity. In order to diagnose ADHD you
have to have at least 12 of 18 symptoms listed below (at least 6 from the
focus/attention list and at least 6 from the hyperactivity-impulsivity
list).
Focus/Attention Symptoms (need at least 6):
1. Makes careless mistake or does not pay attention to detail.
2. Has trouble keeping focused with school work or play activities.
3. Often does not listen when spoken to.
4. Often does not follow through on instructions, has trouble finishing
school work, chores,.
5. Has trouble organizing.
6. Avoids or dislikes thing that require keeping focused (school work,
homework).
7. Loses things (toys, school work, penicls, books, tools, etc.)
8. Easily distracted
9. Foregetful
Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Symptoms (need at least 6):
1. Fidgets with hands or feet (always has to be moving)
2. Leaves seat or place when they are expected to stay there (dinner table,
desk at school).
3. Runs or climbs that are inappropriate
4. Has trouble playing quietly
5. Is often "on the go" or "driven by a motor."
6. Talks a lot
7. Blurts out answers (even before questions are completed).
8. Difficulty waiting their turn
9. Interrupts
These symptoms also have to:
1) Be present for at least 6 months
2) Be present in your child before he or she is 7 years old
3) Be present in at least 2 settings (school and home for example)
4) Cause your child trouble with school or friends.
This is the criteria that was agreed upon by all of the psychiatrists
(doctors who specialize in mental health) in the country and is what all
doctors use to determine if someone has ADHD. Some of the questions your
doctor will ask will be to make sure these symptoms are not really from
another cause such as a seizure disorder, a learning disorder, bipolar
disorder, depression, or a normal response to an abusive or bad home
environment.
How is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) treated?
How child will do with ADHD is "hit or miss." It is believed by doctors that
around half of kids with ADHD will have a "good outcome." For example, half
will complete school work on schedule, get good grades and meet their
parent's expectations of them. It used to be believed that children would
grow up and "grow out of it," but this has not been found to be the case as
around half of children with ADHD will continue to have problems with
attention and hyperactivity when they are adults.
In order to treat ADHD, your doctor may recommend medications, therapy or
both. The medications most commonly used to treat ADHD are called
psychostimulants. Common examples of this type of medication are
Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) and D-amphetamine (Adderall). A lot of
people wonder why you would want to give a child with ADHD stimulants.
These medications don't increase your child's activity level, but rather
stimulate the brain to pay attention and focus. If these stimulants do not
do the trick, other types of medications can be tried like antidepressants.
If you are interested in reading about your specific ADHD medication, please
see our medications link.
Behavioral therapy may also be performed. Parents might benefit from
learning techniques to help control the wrong type of behaviors or to reduce
stimulations in your child's environment. For example, allow your child to
have one friend over instead of 5 if you notice they play better and are
more relaxed.
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