ADHD : Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder 

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder is a developmental & behavioral disorder, usually suffered by children (mostly boys), and sometimes adults as well. It can be characterized by poor concentration, distractibility, hyperactivity and impulsiveness which are unusual for a child's age. 

A few more basic facts:

Two terms are used in this context - ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder). Earlier, the term ADD was used, then renamed ADHD, though ADD is still used to refer to a type of ADHD with no Hyperactivity.

Differences in the parts of the brain controlling attention and activity cause lack of concentration, and slowness in doing jobs. ADHD patients day dream, act impulsively, get hyperactive and restless and are easily distracted by sounds and sights.

What Causes ADHD?
 
Chemicals called 'Neurotransmitters' help send messages between different nerves cells in a human brain to co-ordinate different activities. Example, Dopamine, a neurotransmitter stimulates attention centers in the brain. Lower amounts of this chemical causes an imbalance, causing improper coordination of different brain activities. Doctors, not sure of the exact cause, believe it to be genetic. Based on the tips that ADHD is more common in boys & seen mostly in kids born premature, research continues.

Symptoms:

Usually seen in childhood, ADHD cannot sometimes be diagnosed till teenage or even adulthood. ADHD patients -

1. Cannot stay focused on a task, are less attentive.

2. Keep changing activities, cannot finish tasks.

3. Become forgetful, lose track of things, cannot follow instructions.

4. Are easily distracted by things in the environment, become restless.

5. Cannot organize activities on their own, become careless.

6. Make restless movements of hands / feet cannot be seated quietly or engage in activities patiently, interrupt others.

Estimates - facts & figures

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that about 4.4 million people of age 4-17 have ADHD as of 2003, 2.5 million people of the same age group undergoing treatment currently. Reportedly, 7.8% of school aged children suffered in 2003.

Treatment :

ADHD doesn't have an exact cure. Different patients need to be treated differently, depending on whether the trouble is more on the attention side or activity side. Doctors usually treat with medication, counseling with the family & the patient, changes at schools to adopt particular learning styles.

What can parents do?

Handling kids with ADHD can be quite challenging but making a few changes at home can help. Setting a simple schedule and home rules for the child, helping him understand and follow them, rewarding good behavior and constant supervision, focusing on efforts and not grades and talking to his teachers all help in the longer run. 

A few more facts: 

It is estimated that from 3 to 10 percent of the population suffers from what is known as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This disorder is found more often in boys than girls. This disorder is characterized by inability to concentrate.
Normal attention span seems to develop in three stages:

1. Exclusive Attention: This is a term used by experts to describe attention that is focused on a single object for a long period of time. An example of this would be a baby who focuses totally on a print or button on the clothing of the person holding him. A child whose attention becomes stuck at this stage of development might be diagnosed as having autism.

2. Inclusive Attention: This refers to a very wide span of attention that is constantly changing from one object to another for example a toddler who is running from one toy to the next never able to stay with any one toy even for short period of time. A child who is stuck at this stage develops attention deficit disorder.

3. Selective attention: This refers to a stage where child is able to shift focus at will from being inclusive to being very exclusive. This pattern of attention and concentration is required to be successful in a classroom-learning environment.

Causes

• Slow psychological development
  
• Learning disabilities
  
• Anxiety
  
• Depression
  
• Low thyroid
  
• Poor nutrition
  
• Boredom due to lack of challenge

Problems faced

1) A high level of frustration causes impatience. They want it to finish every thing quickly.

2) Unable to filter out normal background "noise". Thus finding it difficult to concentrate on a task before them.

3) Disorientation to time and space is often a problem.

4) They may have difficulty following a set of instructions or reading a map.

5) They are disorganized. They have trouble making and carrying out plans.

6) They are hyperactive.

7) Because they're always in a hurry, delays of any kind make them restless.

Treatment:

1. Medicines: Medications used to treat ADHD stimulate the production of two neurotransmitters dopamine and norephinephrine. These are necessary to carry a nerve impulse (message). When this neurotransmitter is under supplied, a message may not reach its destination. Brain circuits, like those of a computer are either on or off. When some circuits are on they make something happen such as helping a person to focus on a situation. Some circuits prevent emotional reactions to situations. If the circuit is not on or only partially on, the person may react too quickly to a minor incident which causes anger reaction. These medicines are not sedatives in fact they stimulate certain parts of brain, so it becomes more active leading to better attention and concentration and self-control.

2. Diet: A diet high in L-Tyrosine, an amino acid (protein), has been demonstrated to be effective in some cases. The body to produce norepinephrine a neurotransmitter uses L-Tyrosine. A diet rich in L-Tyrosine may work well to certain extent.

3. Psychological Treatment:  Psychotherapy like behavior modification, cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation training can have a positive effect.

4. Psychoeducational Program: Focus is a psychoeducational program that designed so that it can be used as either an adjunct or as an alternative to medication.