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What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children?
A child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has problems in sustaining attention and concentration. He or she typically exhibits developmentally inappropriate levels of activity and impulsivity and is often the subject of great concern on the part of their parents and teachers. A child with ADHD finds it hard to sit still, they act without thinking, and they have real difficulty seeing any task to its full completion.
ADHD affects every part of a child's life. No matter what type of ADHD a child has, they often have problems paying attention to instructions, finishing tasks, relating with others, or staying calm. This means they often end up in trouble at home and get labeled "trouble maker" or "slow" at school. Children with ADHD often find it difficult to make friends because they do not play fair or follow social cues very well. These problems can lead to lonely and misunderstood children and it usually only gets worse over time; if left untreated, a child with ADHD may develop depression, low self-esteem, or other emotional problems.
Symptoms
ADHD affects nearly 5% of school-aged children and is the most commonly diagnosed disorder of childhood. A child may be diagnosed with ADHD if they have the following symptoms for six months or more:
Distractibility
Inability to focus on one thing such as reading, listening to a lecture, playing a game, or doing any activity for long periods of time. They become easily distracted by noises, movement, smells, or their own thoughts.
Hyperactivity
Having too much energy to handle such as talking non-stop, always moving, unable to sit still, or sleeping for short periods of time.
Impulsivity
Acting without thinking, for example, running out in the street after a ball, knocking over a plant while running across the room, forgetting his or her books on the way to school, or saying something without considering the consequences.
From time to time, every child acts in these ways, so it is important to not only compare the child's behavior to others in his or her age group, but to also appreciate that a diagnosis of ADHD requires that the symptoms are persistent.
The core symptoms of ADHD in girls appear similar to those in boys, even though the condition is much less frequently diagnosed in girls. Disruptive behavior problems are often what prompt parents and teachers to seek professional help for children with ADHD. Girls with ADHD are less likely to have accompanying disruptive behavior disorders, which may be a key reason for their lower rate of diagnosis.
The Types of ADHD
ADHD is a very complex condition; one child with ADHD may have very different symptoms than another child with ADHD. Not all health care professionals distinguish between types of ADHD in the same way. However, most refer to the following types:
Predominantly Inattentive Type
These children are very distractible, but not very hyperactive or impulsive. In fact, they may have no hyperactive symptoms. This type is mostly found in females and they're often labeled as "airheads" or "space cadets."
Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive Type
These children are very hyperactive and impulsive, but not very inattentive. In fact, they may have no inattentive symptoms.
Combined Type
These children are very distractible, hyperactive, and impulsive. Most children who have ADHD have this type.
Causes
A single cause has not been conclusively proven-and it is likely this complex disorder can be the result of a combination of factors. Two of the possibilities currently being researched are:
Family History
Adults who have ADHD usually have at least one close biological relative who also has the disorder. At least one-third of all fathers who had ADHD in their youth bear children who have ADHD.
Brain Function
Research on how the brain normally develops in the fetus offers clues about what may disrupt the process. Throughout pregnancy, and continuing into the first year of life, the brain is constantly developing. Research indicates that a mother's use of cigarettes, alcohol, or other drugs during pregnancy can have damaging effects to the fetus's developing brain. Toxins in the environment can also disrupt brain development or brain processes, which may also lead to ADHD.
In those with ADHD, the brain areas that control attention use less glucose, indicating that they are less active. It appears that a lower level of activity in some parts of the brain may cause inattention and current research is addressing just why this lessened activity occurs.
Treatment
As you can see from the way ADHD affects the child and his or her family life, school life, social life, and overall emotional well-being, it is important to get effective treatment and to get it as early as possible. While there is not yet a cure for ADHD, the symptoms can be significantly relieved and lessened using therapy, or a combination of therapy and medication.
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