ADHD is an abbreviation to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Initially, as defined in 1994 by the American Psychological Association aimed at the inclusion of hyperactivity. could be present at birth but the symptoms are not present until after five years when children are active enough to show the hyperactive characteristics. Diagnosis is thus probable between 7- 10 years on average.
Unknown causes are suspected, although the principle cause is believed to be malformations in the central nervous system and victims most often than mot experience social problems in diverse environments, including school and work among.
Prevalence
Survey carried out in 1996 recorded “a total of 40% of children taken to psychiatrists had been diagnosed to have ADHD, while it affects an estimated 4%-12% of school age children this is mostly diagnosed in male than female children and translates to 4.4 million ADH D affected youths. In the same year, adults recorded prevalence rate of 2%-5% with male adults recording higher than female adults at 4% and 10% respectively” (Spohn 233).
There is identified variation in this prevalence estimation as some regions record higher percentages with industrialized counties records higher.
By the year 2003, “more than 2.5 million were under medication for ADHD related symptoms” (Blakemore-Brown 112).
This number has increases significantly with some areas recording double and more.
Causes of ADHD
The scores of factors have been suspected to cause ADHD. These include, genetics, infections, brain destruction especially damage to the part that coordinates attention, heavy metal toxics, malnutrition, allergies of food and chemicals and immune defects as well. Contrary to belief, factors such as poor parenting styles when bringing up children, excessive or too little sugar, vitamin deficiency, being allergic to some food substances or just general allergy, lights and addiction to film games least cause ADHD.
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The Over-diagnosis of ADHD In Bobby second grade classroom, his teacher threw up her hands and said, That is it! On that very morning, Bobby leaped out of his seat seven times to go sharpen his pencil, each time accidentally colliding into other students desks and chairs, sending papers and books plunging to the floor. Bobby screamed out comments to every slightly comical part of the book that the ...
Symptoms of ADHD
The affected person has limited ability to remain attentive or keep focused to activity while a child may have difficulty to effectively and efficiently attend to the given tasks or assignments due to inability to neither follow nor execute even elaborate instructions. Most of the victims have abnormal inability to memorize and suffer from frequent distractions. they have poor task organization ability and are poor in turn taking, interrupts, gives answers to questions even before they are completely asked, moves body parts when seated, talk too much and sometimes annoying verbalizations. They are always on the move seam not to listen.
The symptoms associated with ADHD may diminish with advancement in age making the condition less severe but this does not mean total absence of it. These characteristics may proceed with children into adulthood.
Diagnosis of ADD/ADHD in children
It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics that diagnosis of ADD/ADHD should be done through the following means (Bowman 245)
i. Through examination medically and the study of family background. This will help determine whether any member in the victim’s lineage had been in the same condition before, this aims at tracing the cause of the condition to inheritance.
ii. There should be wholesome physical and mental examination to establish possible n neurological malfunctioning as the causal factor.
iii. An interview with the child, his/her parents and other significant people could provide leading predictions.
iv. An effective screening tool could possibly identify ADD/ADHD and its characteristics.
v. Observation of the child’s behavior characteristics
The Homework on Adhd Children Child Hyperactivity
In 1998, the National Institutes of Mental Health agreed that attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is indeed a legitimate psychologic condition even though its definition has not been fully pinned down. ADHD is a syndrome generally characterized by the following symptoms that first occur before the age of seven: Inattention, Distractibility, Impulsivity, Hyperactivity. Some experts ...
vi. Diverse psychological examinations aimed at establishing mental, social and emotional maladjustments.
Possible indicators of an adult with ADHD
Adult encounters problems in occupation as well as career, experience difficulty in perfection of activities/ assignments at work or academics as well as difficulty in maintaining smooth relationships. Other symptoms include continuous feeling of stress and frustrations, engagement in a number of issues at the same time, problems meeting promises and other commitments, frequent review of plans and establishing new ones, limited self-control, spontaneous behavior patterns inability to manage boredom, impatience and ease to anger.
Conditions associated with ADHD
Several conditions seam to be associated with ADHD which includes learning disabilities, behavior disorders, anxiety and feeling of depression.
Treatment of ADHD
Currently, there is no instant cure/medication for ADHD. The far that specialists can go is to help the victims live with the symptoms.
