![]() |
What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a developmental and behavioral disorder, usually suffered by children (mostly boys), but sometimes by adults as well. It can be characterized by things like poor concentration, distractibility, hyperactivity and impulsiveness which are unusual for a child's age.
Generally 3-5% of children of pre-schools and also adults suffer from ADHD.
Two terms are used in this context - ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD. Earlier, the term ADD was used, then renamed ADHD. Still though, ADD is 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 typically day dream, act impulsively, get hyperactive and restless and are easily distracted by sounds and sights.
What Causes ADHD?
In order to co-ordinate different activities, certain chemicals called 'Neurotransmitters' help send messages between different nerve cells in a human brain. For example, the neurotransmitter Dopamine stimulates attention centers in the brain. Lower amounts of this chemical cause an imbalance, resulting in an improper coordination of different brain activities.
Most doctors, not sure of the exact cause, believe ADHD to be genetic. They base their assumption on the fact that ADHD is more common in boys, and seen mostly in kids born premature. Still, research continues.
Symptoms
Usually seen in childhood, ADHD sometimes cannot be diagnosed untill teenage or even adulthood. In general, ADHD patients:
- Cannot stay focused on a task, are less attentive.
- Keep changing activities, cannot finish tasks.
- Become forgetful, lose track of things, cannot follow instructions.
- Are easily distracted by things in the environment, become restless.
- Cannot organize activities on their own, become careless.
- Make restless movements of hands and/or 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, and only 2.5 million people of the same age group undergoing treatment currently.
Reportedly, 7.8% of school aged children suffered ADHD 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 the activity side. Doctors usually treat with medication, counseling with the family & the patient, and 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 in the longer run:
- Setting a simple schedule and home rules,
- Helping him understand and follow these rules,
- Rewarding good behavior,
- Constant supervision,
- Focusing on efforts and not grades, and
- Talking to his teachers.
|
![]() |
