Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD, is identified by the American Psychiatric Association in children who show an inappropriate attention span, are too impulsive and sometimes are deemed hyperactive given their age. ADD can be diagnosed either with or without hyperactivity. Teachers and parents alike have received and will continue to receive a diagnosis of ADD for children who have problems academically, socially or emotionally. Around 20 percent of the population will eventually be diagnosed with ADD.
Children between eight and ten years old are the ones most likely to be diagnosed with ADD, having been referred to a doctor by teachers as well as parents. The younger the child is when diagnosed, the more serious forms of ADD they are likely to exhibit. In reverse, when older children are diagnosed, they generally exhibit a less serious form of the disorder. ADD shows up most readily in situations where the child is required to work independently or in a group setting. One-on-one situations or situations that are new to the child tend not to display ADD behaviors as much.
The American Psychiatric Association looks for these things in diagnosing ADD:
1. Inattention - does not finish things once started, appears not to listen, is easily distracted, cannot focus on schoolwork or anything requiring a longer attention span, does not stay with a play activity for long.
2. Impusivity - acts without thinking about consequences, moves excessively from one task to another, does not organize work though this is not because of any cognitive impairment, must have supervision, talks out in class, does not wait his or her turn in group situations.
3. Hyperactivity - ADD may be diagnosed with or without hyperactivity, but a hyperactive child will do at least two of these: run or climb excessively, cannot sit still and fidgets, cannot stay seated, moves around more than usual even when asleep.
4. ADD symptoms are usually seen before age seven.
5. The symptoms last at least six months.
6. The symptoms are not caused by schizophrenia, affective disorder or any type of profound mental retardation.
Those who deal with ADD children must work on improving the child's attention skills, impulsivity and possibly hyperactivity. The child's self-esteem and social skills will also need extra attention. Skills of a perceptual and conceptual nature will have to be worked on. ADD appears to affect children's responses to reinforcements and motivations as well. Many of these needs in ADD children are interwoven, and how one thing is handled will affect another.
There is no conclusive evidence as to the causes of ADD. ADD may be genetic, prenatal or physical. Due to the possible causes, many children are medicated as an answer to addressing the symptoms. There is no one medication that is successful in all children who exhibit ADD symptoms. The most common medications are Dexedrine, Ritalin and Cylert.
There are often other learning difficulties ranging from learning disabilities to emotional disturbance that ADD is often secondary to. The sooner a correct diagnosis is made and help begun, the better the odds of avoiding other complications.
The nature of this disorder would indicate that the child's attention skills will need a lot of work. Children must be able to pay attention for stretches of time in order to learn and succeed in school. They must learn to finish projects once they are started. They must learn to listen and be assisted to have as few distractions as possible. These children need to be assisted in building up their attention span.
Impulsivity in these children also needs assistance. School-aged children have to be trained to stop and think before they answer or start their work. This requires quite a bit of supervision initially, but must eventually become the student's responsibility requiring a larger degree of self-control.
If hyperactivity is present, it can interfere with learning. Children must learn to slow down and become aware of their situations and surroundings. One helpful activity is "The Turtle Imagery Procedure" in which the student says he or she will proceed like a slow turtle as part of a structured program. Other means of controlling hyperactivity include modeling of appropriate behavior by adults, watching themselves on videotape, role playing, biofeedback and relaxation techniques.
A large problem of children with ADD is socializing with peers. When children are unable to make friends or get along well with others, they begin to have negative feelings and impressions of themselves. There are other skill short-comings in both perceptual and conceptual areas that will need extra attention in the ADD student. A lot of the focus in this area is on the specific task being taught and utilizes a strong behavioral approach which emphasizes incremental learning.
Reinforcement response seems to be affected in ADD children. However, for any assistance to be successful, parents and teachers alike will need to find out what will be reinforcing for a particular student. Then a reinforcement schedule can be mapped out.
Attention Deficit Disorder: An Overview of Childhood ADDSince so many would rather avoid the use of stimulant medications for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder if possible, a growing need for the development of alternative treatments for ADD ADHD has developed over the past twenty years. Although there are many products that claim to help any child with ADD ADHD, the truth is that there are only a few non-medication treatments for attention deficit disorder that have actually undergone even the simplest of clinical trials. Most alternative treatments have never been carefully studied to determine their effectiveness in the real world. Our four favorite non-medication treatments for attention deficit disorder have been studied in the real world. They are Behavior Modification therapy, the Nutraceutical medicines called "Attend" and "Extress," Brainwave Biofeedback training, and Eating or Diet Interventions. Counseling can have positive benefits under certain circumstances, such as the skill of the therapist in working with ADD ADHD individuals. Most therapists have little experience working with this population. "Attend" and "Extress" are excellent alternatives to prescription stimulant medications. They are very complex formulas, engineered to optimize brain functioning in individuals experiencing problems with attention, impulse control, temper, paying attention, or over-activity. EEG Biofeedback training, also called Neurofeedback, is about a twenty year old technology. With the continuing development of faster and faster computers it has become a viable alternative treatment for attention deficit disorder. There is a great deal of research on EEG Biofeedback which you should read if you are at all interested. The EEG Spectrum web site for great information on this treatment option. Eating programs, or diet interventions, may also have some positive impact on individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Although we do not feel that this intervention is as effective as either the Attend and Extress, or EEG Biofeedback training, we do believe that every individual with ADHD should try a diet intervention. Many individuals with ADD ADHD will also benefit from nutritional supplements. The most effective are probably Essential Fatty Acids (Omega Oils) and certain minerals such as Zinc. The essential fatty acids are found in the "Attend" nutraceutical. They can also be found in Flax Seed Oil or Borage Oil. They can also be found in fish, and you can simply feed your child more tuna fish.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is perhaps one of the most controversial disorders of the 20th century. What makes it particularly controversial is the politics and money surrounding the disorder and it's treatment. It doesn't help either that even though there are millions of children and adults across the world diagnosed with ADHD, no doctor or expert can pinpoint to a clear origin, cause, or cure for ADHD. The definition of ADHD even changes as new scientific discoveries are made. So what exactly is ADHD?
Although doctors and experts on the disorder have their own opinions on how ADHD or attention deficit hyperactive disorder emerges and how it should be treated, there are two main schools of thought on how to properly manage this condition.
Traditional Western medicine's perspective is the one most commonly used. A traditional medical doctor will probably tell you that ADHD is a developmental disorder caused by an imbalance in the neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are essentially brain chemicals that relay messages and signals among brain cells. When an individual does not have the right number of neurotransmitters, he or she will experience uncontrollable hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention - the three core symptoms of ADHD. For a child or adult to be diagnosed with ADHD, he or she must meet at least 12 out of 18 criteria. Once the individual receives a diagnosis, he or she will be given ADHD medications to get rid of the symptoms.
The second school of thought goes beyond traditional Western medicine's narrow approach to ADHD. Instead of viewing the disorder as merely an imbalance in brain chemicals, the holistic approach sees the condition as the result of imbalances in the individual's body and mind. In this view, ADHD is a "spectrum disorder", which means that it affects every person in different ways. No two people with ADHD will experience the exact same combination of symptoms. This is why some children with ADHD run around and never stay still, while other children with ADHD daydream too much and have problem concentrating. Besides that, ADHD also comes with a host of other health and mental problems beyond the 18 diagnostic criteria, such as insomnia, oppositional behavior, and anxiety problems. Although the holistic approach does acknowledge that an imbalance in neurotransmitters does in fact play a factor in causing ADHD, it is by no mean the only explanation for the disorder. Rather, a chemical imbalance makes an individual predisposed to ADHD. Once that individual encounters certain environmental factors, the condition gets triggered and the person experiences the three core symptoms.
The holistic school of thought also believes that medication is an inadequate treatment for ADHD. Medications only treat the symptoms and ignore the environmental factors that trigger the disorder in the first place. Instead of merely dispensing medication, the holistic perspective focuses its attention on understanding the individual's medical history, symptoms, and environment, before creating a treatment plan based on natural alternatives to ADHD. Your understanding of ADHD depends entirely on what school of thought you agree with. But if you view ADHD as a body-mind imbalance caused by environmental triggers instead of a disease that can be cured with a pill, it is easier to come up with a natural treatment that brings lots of benefits without the damaging side effects of ADHD medication.
What is ADHD?Most of the ADHD kids that are seen in a private practice setting are hyperactive kids simply because they get into the most trouble. Their parents are usually pulling their hair out and saying, "We've got to get this child some help." The sad truth is that if a parent is going to spend money to get treatment for his kid, that kid's usually got to get into trouble first. So that's why hyperactive kids are seen the most in treatment.
Remember, though, not all of the kids with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are hyperactive. Perhaps as many as two out of three are, but perhaps as few as only 50%. So, that means that as many as 35% to 50% of kids with ADHD are not hyperactive.
So, what is hyperactivity? If you have a child who is hyperactive, you need no explanation. He's the one running across the ceiling. But for the rest of you, this is what hyperactivity in children and teens looks like. These are kids that act as if they are driven by a motor. They "go." You wind them up in the morning and they "go" until they're finally exhausted, and then they go to sleep, maybe. Some of these sleep pretty well during the night, and some of them hardly need sleep at all. Three hours of sleep and they're up and ready to go.
One definition of hyperactivity is "high levels of non-goal directed motor activity." A child with high levels of motor activity that is always directed at a goal may not be clinically hyperactive. He may be a future professional athlete or rocket scientist. It's the kid who bounces from one activity to another, in a manner inappropriate for their age, which is our concern.
Hyperactivity is often thought of as the child being "over aroused." There is a part of your brain that is constantly scanning the environment to see if there are any changes in that environment. If anything has changed, then that part of the brain asks the question, "Is this new thing in the environment good or bad? Is it something good to eat, or is it going to eat me? How should I feel about this new thing? Should I like it, or be afraid or it?" In many ADHD kids who are hyperactive this part of the brain is overly sensitive, and the kids are seen as being easily startled or scared, overreacting to things, touching everything around them, and being very edgy.
They never seem to be able to just relax. Some of these kids also have a very quick temper, a short fuse. They are sometimes explosive. They often lose friends because of their intensity and temper, and they often seem to run over people like a tornado.
But as we have said, a lot of ADHD kids are not hyperactive. And the kids who are not hyperactive tend to be girls, and they tend to sit in the back of the classroom and just quietly get C's and D's when everyone knows they should be getting A's and B's. These kids with ADHD without hyperactivity are the one's being labeled as "lazy" and at the parent conferences the parents are told, "He or she could do better if they'd just try harder."
You can learn more about the different types of ADHD. There are at least five different types of ADHD, and there are specific treatment strategies that should be used for each type. Impulsive children need a different strategy than children who are not impulsive, and hyperactive children need a different strategy than children who are not hyperactive. So be sure to visit the ADHD Information Library's section on the Different Types of ADHD.
The use of behavioral medicines is steadily increasing. It has been found that there has been an increase of 183% in the use of prescriptions of behavioral medicines in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is estimated that about 3-5 million school aged children are on psychostimulant medications to improve behavioral functioning. Stimulant medications have been found to be the most effective intervention in reducing the core behavioral symptoms of hyperactivity. Of the various psychostimulant medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, caffeine is the most readily available one.
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and a diuretic. The active component in it is called methylxanthine. A dose of 150 -250 mg produces the following effects -
A sense of well being Alertness Beats boredom Allays fatigue Thinking becomes clear even when dullness tend to prevail after a sustained intellectual effort Improves performance Increases motor activity
But higher doses can be toxic. Higher doses cause nervousness, restlessness, panic, sleeplessness and excitement. Still higher doses may cause convulsions. Caffeine is found naturally in drinks like coffee and tea. It is artificially introduced in the soft drinks like coke. It is also found in little quantity in chocolates.
Though caffeine is primarily used as a respiratory stimulant and for the treatment of headache including migraine, being a psychostimulant it has been found to be effective in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Of the three commonly used behavioral medicines - methylphenidate, caffeine and atomoxetine - caffeine is the readily available one. It is a psychostimulant drug and its effect can be seen in 15 minutes after consumption. 99% of the effects are seen within 45 minutes. The effects of a single dose last for about 4-6 hours.
Though it is a stimulant drug and has been tried for the treatment of ADHD, the effects have been inconsistent. Studies have shown that its effect on the core symptoms of ADHD has been inconsistent and that it produces only limited improvement of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Its effect on secondary symptoms is also not consistent. Studies have shown that it produces only limited and inconsistent improvement of social and academic functioning.
The advantages of caffeine in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are -
It is a nonprescription drug It is readily available It is an alternative to the prescription medications Enough data are available on the safety profile on both short term and long term intake of caffeine.
The disadvantages of caffeine in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are -
The amounts are not regulated There is only limited support for its efficacy. There are no randomized controlled trials that have been done to evaluate the short term effects of caffeine in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Only case reports are available on the short term effects of caffeine on ADHD There are no data available on the long term effects of caffeine in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Does Caffeine Causes Interactions With ADHD?Anti-social behaviors are common with ADHD individuals. About 60% of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder kids are also oppositional or defiant. Some are even getting in trouble with the law.
Impulsive-Hyperactive ADHD kids are the most likely to get into trouble than are the Inattentive ADHD kids, as they tend to crave the stimulation of anti-social behaviors, and impulsively "act-out". Because they are impulsive, they don't plan their crimes well, and are usually easily caught.
Teens untreated for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder average two arrests by the age of 18. About 20% of teens untreated for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder will be arrested for a felony, versus only about 3% of teens without ADHD.
As many as 50% of all men in prisons have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and were untreated as children or teens for ADHD. It is also estimated that as many as 50% of all teenagers in juvenile facilities have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder but were untreated for ADHD.
Teenagers with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Impulsive Type ADHD - have 400% more traffic accidents and traffic tickets related to speeding, than teens without ADD ADHD.
Twice as many teens with ADHD will run away from home than teens without ADHD. About 16% of teens run away from home at some point, versus 32% of teens untreated for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Arson is often associated with Attention Deficit Disorder, as teens with untreated Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are three times more likely to be arrested for arson than those without ADHD: 16% vs. 5%.
Teenagers untreated for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are ten times more likely to get pregnant, or cause a pregnancy, than those without ADHD.
Teenagers untreated for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are 400% more likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease than teens without ADHD: 16% to 4%.
Around the house, the inattentive kids tend to be non-compliant due to not being motivated enough to remember the things he was asked to do.
ADHD causes problems in our homes, and in our nation. We need to learn more about Attention Deficit Disorder, how to diagnose it and how to treat it successfully. To learn more visit the ADHD Information Library.
Attention Deficit Disorder is a very complex, and often times
misunderstood, disorder. Its basis is physiological, but it can have a
host of ramifications that come along with it. That aside, what are the
differences between ADD and ADHD? ADHD stands for Attention Deficit
Hyperactive Disorder, with the main symptoms being visible
hyperactivity and/or impulsivity. These are the symptoms that
stand out to the objective observer. ADD stands for Attention
Deficit Disorder with the main symptoms being inattention. Now
many other things can come along with both of these subtypes of ADHD,
but those are the distinguishing features of both.
For many years, the typical picture of Attention Deficit Disorder has
been the little boy that is bouncing off the walls and driving his
teachers and parents crazy. ADHD is by far the most diagnosed of
the two subtypes because it is so much more visible than ADD. Since
hyperactivity creates a lot more distraction and problems for
classrooms, it gets the most attention and will be picked up on a lot
faster. Unfortunately, even though ADD is less invisible, the results
of the disorder can just as destructive.
With inattentive attention deficit disorder, or ADD, the person
suffering from it will seem spacey and disorganized. Most often,
sufferers with this type will be staring out the window during classes
and will appear as if they are never quite present. It is much
more difficult to diagnose and many people with this form of ADD go
years without even knowing they have it. But the results of the
wandering mind can be just as destructive.
For many years, it was thought that only boys had ADHD. This myth
has been shattered recently, though. It is now known that both
boys and girls can have attention deficit disorder, and many do not
grow out of it in adulthood. One difference that has been noted is that
girls tend to have the inattentive version of ADD, and many times it is
misdiagnosed as depression. Because inattentive ADD does not
cause obvious problems and distractions to the surrounding environment,
many suffer in silence for years before they find out the real cause of
their troubles.
With both ADHD and ADD, diagnosis early is very important.
Although problems with academics is the most obvious symptom, some
sufferers do not have significant issues with getting school work
done. Keep track of your children, not just academically, but
socially and emotionally as well. Do they have trouble with other
children? Does it seem as if they have trouble organizing or are
excessively messy? Do they have trouble sitting still for a period of
time? Are they excessively quiet or excessively talkative? Now any of
these symptoms do not specifically signify ADD or ADHD, but they do
point to asking for outside help from a counselor or therapist. Your
child's psychological health is just as important as their physical
health and how they do in school. Check it out if you feel like
something is off. If left for years undiagnosed, ADD can cause
lots of other secondary problems that can take a long time to undo and
can be prevented.
If the child is exhibiting conditions associated with ADHD, go through the following checklist. (We haven't outlined the symptoms of ADHD, as these can be found on a number of sites concerned with ADHD).
Checklist
Is the child allergic to any foods - allergic reactions produce the same type of behaviour, as does ADHD? Does the child have a hearing difficulty? If children have difficulty hearing they can become very restless. Does the child have a visual problem? Some researchers have identified that children with visual tracking and visual focusing problems, can have very restless and inattentive behaviour. Is the child gifted - children who are very bright may become bored and restless and be mistaken as having ADHD. Check if the child is misbehaving at school or preschool.
Suggestions
To determine if the child has a food allergy, make a chart of the food the child eats and the times the child behaves badly see if there is a connection between the behaviour and the child's diet. Have a full medical check. This eliminates any medical problems as a cause for the behaviour. Also have a full visual and hearing check. If after the medical, hearing and visual checks, there is still a problem, have the child formally assessed by a pediatrician. The next step is that of identifying all the coexisting conditions. You can have this done by having a full Diagnostic Assessment done by a psychologist and Specialist Learning Support teacher. Treatments should be determined by a multidisciplinary team of professionals working together to determine the treatments necessary. These should focus on modifying the behaviour and dealing with any learning and/or emotional difficulties.
Some Hints on Managing the Behaviour regardless of cause.
o Get into a routine and stick to it (include fun times and laughter)
o Be consistent with discipline and offer rewards where appropriate.
o As an outlet for anger set up a punching bag or get the child to play sport.
o Use positive language, keep directions short, maintain calm.
o Agree together on consequences/rewards for behaviour.
In summary the challenge in catering for a child diagnosed with ADHD, is to find the treatment that suits each child, this involves treating not just the behaviour but also all the coexisting conditions. It is finding the pieces of the puzzle that fit for each child.
© Marguerite Clancy
A Holistic Approach to the Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)We all know how tiring our little darlings can be, and we're often ready for a good night's sleep at the end of a long day. But for parents with one, or even two, children who suffer with ADHD, or just hyperactivity, or just ADD without the hyperactivity, it can be an exhausting never ending struggle.
Children fighting and arguing in the home, complaints or concerns from the school, and it's no wonder that parents can be exhausted and not know where to turn.
Understandably, many parents do not want to turn to drugs such as Ritalin, and now that NICE have recommended that Doctors only give them in the most severe situations anyway, it's necessary for parents to find other answers.
NICE generally recommend counselling, but as well as this it's a good idea to look at the child's diet.
Is he eating too much sugar? Some children are very sensitive to even small amounts of sugar (sweets, soft drinks, biscuits, cakes, white flour, white rice, white pasta, etc.).
A Primary School Teacher colleague tells me that after lunch (where the packed lunch contains some of the items mentioned above) the children are virtually climbing the wall. They like to run and run, as if they've only got 20 more seconds to fit everything in.
So sugar is the first thing that really has to be cut out if it seems to be affecting the child adversely.
Nutritional therapists are often accused of cutting wheat out of everyone's diet. Well, that's probably true - but there's a good reason for this. Wheat has been shown to damage the gut lining in the majority of people - even people who are not diagnosed with coeliac disease are damaged by wheat, even if they don't know it. The mechanism for this will be covered in another article - suffice to say that eating wheat will cause the gut to be damaged and make you more prone to food sensitivity.
However, it may not be necessary to cut out ALL wheat - just reduce it whenever possible, i.e. wheat-free cereals for breakfast for example.
Colourings, preservatives, dairy, soya, oranges, peanuts, corn, tomato, eggs, fish and oats are foods to pay attention to, as these can be common allergens.
Many nutritional therapists have found that correcting even mild imbalances or deficiencies can have a substantial influence on learning and behaviour and the suggestions above are usually a good place to start.
ADHD - What Part Does Allergy and Food Sensitivity Play in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?Everyone hears a lot about attention deficit problems these days and the condition has even become a staple of media entertainment (mainly sitcoms), appearing as a humor-based topic on shows like Desperate Housewives and the animated series, South Park. But what exactly are attention problems beyond how we might normally conceptualize them?
The condition known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, can be summarized in a variety of ways, but essentially, the condition is simply one that is denoted by characteristic hyperactivity, short attention span, and high impulsivity. It is also a medical condition for which the diagnosis is occurring far more frequently. And, though this may not be surprising to some, the disorder is one that predominantly affects one particular gender.
How prevalent is ADHD? It may affect between from five to ten percent of younger children with the condition being diagnosed far more frequently in males versus females (up to 10 times more
often).
Very often, an ADHD patient will show symptoms of other conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Those with ADHD also tend to have a certain degree of emotional instability and a
reduced level of maturity comparable to their peers. Again, this is no surprise to parents and teachers. Unfortunately, as well, learning disorders are also fairly common among those with
attention deficit problems.
Many of the same parents and teachers who must deal with attention problems in children on a daily basis, however, might be surprised to learn that many adults have attention deficit issues also (though prescription drug treatment and counseling for ADHD is typically aimed at adolescents and children). Very often, the adult with ADHD is not even aware that he or she has the condition. And, in fact, many older persons with ADHD are not diagnosed with the condition until relatively late in life.
Presently, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is believed to be genetically transferred and passed on by heredity. And popular conceptions about the disorder take the position that it
is the result of biochemical abnormalities within the brain.
Coincidentally, this mirrors current views regarding bipolar disorder, a medical and psychiatric problem that seems to be caused, at least in part, by neurochemical deficits.
What should you do if you suspect your child may have ADHD, or suspect that you or another adult may have the disorder? Seek appropriate help, possibly from an internist, or a psychiatrist or other mental health practitioner who is trained to diagnose the disorder and evalute its severity. And do it soon. ADHD can be a difficult condition to live with, but, with proper intervention, its severity can be managed.
What absolutely is Adhd?The treatment of ADD (attention deficit disorder) or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is often difficult because ADD symptoms vary so much that you wonder whether it is the same condition that two patients can have. ADD symptoms can be very aggressive on the one hand and very passive on the other and that is what makes the treatment of ADD tough. What does tend to be common in all attention deficit disorder symptoms is the inability to sit still and concentrate. Is that all that it takes to diagnose and prescribe the treatment of ADD? How do doctors diagnose those who need ADD treatment? The American Psychiatric Association lists 14 symptoms out of which they say at least 8 need to be present before the case is diagnosed and the patient sent for treatment.
People suffering from ADD don't like sitting for too long and are very easily distracted. They answer before they ought to and detest waiting in queues or waiting for an answer to their question. They tend not to finish what they are doing and leaving things half done, going on to something new. The treatment of ADD and ADHD needs to take into consideration that sufferers may not be aware about danger and will wander into something without thinking.
The main problem with the treatment of ADD is that sufferers get bored easily. If you have ADD, you may even get bored with long courses of treatment of ADD even though you realize they need it desperately. In the treatment of ADD, one should take into consideration the fact that the neural co-ordination is not good so stimulation from external sources could distract you a great deal. The treatment of ADD should be aware that the stimulation could be sound, visual or emotional. The treatment of ADD must also take into account that the feelings of frustration that come from having to tune these stimulation experiences down and pay attention to one idea.
What exactly is the cause of ADD and ADHD? Brain co-ordination could be impaired due to eating too much sugar which inhibits the brain responding to norepinephrine. Some people could be allergic to some substances, especially food colors, cow's milk, certain nuts, citrus fruits and tomatoes. Some people could be suffering from SAD or seasonal affective disorder and it is necessary to take care that the treatment of attention deficit disorder [http://www.mitamins.com/disease/ADD.html] is not started before it is established that the case has not been wrongly diagnosed. SAD could be caused due to a lack of sunlight. In the treatment of ADD, other causes that crop up are metal toxicity, poor nutrition and artificial flavors and preservatives. Soft drinks can also be a potential hazard as the phosphates they contain upset the calcium-phosphorus levels which exaggerate muscle activity.
Is there a natural remedy for ADD or ADHD? Fish oil, primrose oil and flaxseed oil are all very helpful in the treatment of ADD. Supplements that contain a full, balanced, compliment of nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins are also recommended. Of course, all foods cooked in trans-fats and foods containing additives and colors are out, as also are foods that contain aspartame: shown to increase hyperactivity. The treatment of ADD is as much one of exclusion as one of including foods and vitamins.
Though in the treatment of attention deficit disorder [http://www.mitamins.com/disease/ADD.html] it is found that sufferers are usually children, there are instances of adult ADD as well. These people have trouble managing money and time and the condition can have disastrous effects at home and at work. They usually have a poor self-image and are very easily frustrated or bored. During the treatment of ADD, it must be kept in mind that they need a bit of boosting where their self-esteem is concerned.
Treatment of Attention Deficit DisorderOne of the trademarks of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the inability to finish projects. Often times school or work projects are started with the best of intentions only to end up unfinished. It may not be a matter of meeting a deadline, or even feeling that last minute pressure, allowing them to gain/re-gain their focus. It likely is matter of not being able to wrap his/her mind around the project well enough to turn it into a series of manageable pieces. Think of it this way it is always more difficult to run a race when the finish line is out of sight. Thus, the ADHD personality always performs better when they tackle a series of short projects always keep the finish line in sight.
Rather than jumping right in head first it might be worthwhile to take the time to figure out which is the deep end of the pool. One of the best ways to do this is to create an outline of the general ideas relating to your project, along with what you are trying to accomplish. Then think about how you can break the project or assignment down into easily understandable, manageable chunks, to do each day, rather than thinking of the project or assignment as one big abstract task.
Once you have laid out a plan next it is time to formulate a plan of attack. This can be achieved by looking at the list of things to do and prioritizing them by importance. For instance if you wanted to write an article about completing projects and ADHD you might want to first learn more about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as it relates to completing projects. One reason for this is that those with ADHD get frustrated easily and if they get stuck in the middle of a task they will throw in the towel and start something new. So doing some research beforehand allows those with attention deficit disorder to apply their fast moving kaleidoscope of abstract ideas in a productive and manageable way.
So you have laid out a plan, done a little research, and are now raring to go. You must fight the urge to bite off more than you can chew, at least initially. Additionally, you must try not to overanalyze your plan, just follow it. You should also feel free to make slight adjustments here and there, but only if you feel doing so is necessary to completing the project; don't spend so much time reformulating your plan that you fail to act on it.
In conclusion, ADHD and completing tasks are certainly not synonymous with one another. A person with ADHD must find a way to allow the biological imbalance occurring in his/her brain to work in their favor rather than be a constant obstacle to success. By taking a project or assignment and breaking it down in manageable pieces a person with ADHD will have jumped over one of the major hurdles on their way to completing projects in a timely manner.
Additionally, many ADHD adults and children alike have found natural homeopathic ADHD remedies to be a helpful tool for managing such common symptoms as inattention/distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity/restlessness. Homeopathy for ADHD is very safe, and anecdotal evidence suggests one of the most effective.
ADHD - A Roadmap For Completing Projects For Those With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderThey say that every generation seems to be more complex as it goes by. Kids of today will not be certainly the kids of tomorrow. One generation differs from one another as one grows old and the other is born. Because of this, kids' behavioral pattern varies.
An example of this is the well-known behavioral condition in children in which they are experiencing hyper activity and restlessness. This disorder is also known as ADHD or the attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder.
This disorder is responsible for a child's hyperactivity and liveliness. These cases can be managed by consulting child psychiatrists. On the other hand, this condition may be used otherwise. If only the parents can direct the attention of their children to other things to make them productive, ADHD could be a key to success.
Children suffering from ADHD are so energetic and they look at everything as it has always been a play. This gives them extra boost in doing physical activities like sports; swimming to strengthen their lungs and stamina, dancing to enhance their balance, and martial arts to develop their heart, muscle and patience.
Most of the children with ADHD are extroverted making them livelier and have a high social competence making them suitable for social activities like seminar speakers, panelists or even teachers. They may also join other social activities to help the community. They may be involved in cleaning the surroundings, joining local clubs, volunteers which aim to help government projects, participating in local shows and contests,
Another option in selecting activities for a child with ADHD is in a form of arts. A child may show interest in painting, photo shooting, and making sculptures. These activities may develop a child's creativity and logic because such talents empower the logical capacity of a child. Also, these provide some relaxation and peace of mind for the child as well as the person who will look to such creations and work of arts.
While the ADHD has a positive effect on children it is also advisable that parents must keep an eye to their children for they might isolate themselves from doing their tasks and be attracted to more enjoyable yet not that interactive like computer games.
They must learn how to control their own behavior. They should be taught the difference between normal amount from addiction that is why they need a constant monitoring; parents when they are at home, and teachers when they are at school. Continuous monitoring is essential for a child's development.
The most effective way to control these children is to understand them. Mostly, children with this condition are often discriminated because of their unusual behavior. They don't need discrimination but understanding. It is better to help them to grow than to discriminate them and allow them to be the problems of the society.
Choosing Activities For A Child With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
