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ADD/ADHD

Attention Deficit hyeractivity Disorder

 

Definition:

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder characterized by inattentiveness, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity resulting in significant impairment in functioning at home, school, or with peers.

In the past various terms have been used to describe the condition we now call ADHD including "Minimal brain damage or dysfunction", "hyperkinesis", "hyperactivity", and "attention deficit disorder."

About 3% to 5% of school-age children have ADHD. It is approximately 6 times more frequent in boys than in girls. Symptoms persist into adulthood in 40% to 60% of individuals.

Signs and Symptoms:

AD/HD symptoms usually arise in early childhood. Current diagnostic criteria indicate that the disorder is marked by behaviors that are long lasting and evident for at least six months, with onset before age seven. There are three primary subtypes, each associated with different symptoms. (taken from the CHADD website)

AD/HD - Primarily Inattentive Type:
� Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes.
� Has difficulty sustaining attention.
� Does not appear to listen.
� Struggles to follow through on instructions.
� Has difficulty with organization.
� Avoids or dislikes tasks requiring sustained mental effort.
� Is easily distracted.
� Is forgetful in daily activities.

AD/HD - Primarily Hyperactive/Impulsive Type:
� Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in chair.
� Has difficulty remaining seated.
� Runs around or climbs excessively.
� Has difficulty engaging in activities quietly.
� Acts as if driven by a motor.
� Talks excessively.
� Blurts out answers before questions have been completed.
� Has difficulty waiting or taking turns.
� Interrupts or intrudes upon others.

Coexisting conditions

-        25% to 30% of ADHD children have a learning disability. Despite normal or even superior intelligence, the ADHD child is often a chronic underachiever. By adolescence up to one-third of ADHD children have failed at least one grade in school.

-      Speech and Language Disorders

-   Many ADHD children have language disorders, most prominently found in expressive language. They may have limited vocabularies, word-finding difficulties and poor grammar. Some psychologists feel language development is also linked to the development of self-control, as children use inner language to help them monitor behaviour.

-    Psychiatric Disorders

-    As many as 50% to 65% of ADHD children have at least one additional psychiatric disorder. Additional diagnoses frequently include Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder. The greatest risks for those who develop serious antisocial behaviour during adolescence are those who come from dysfunctional families involving alcoholism, drug abuse, and violence. Problems with poor self esteem are common and 25% to 33% of ADHD children experience at least one episode of major depression during their childhood years. Anxiety disorders resulting in fears and worries also occur in up to 25% of ADHD children.

Causes    - Most research points to neurological roots....more information             to        come

Treatments

There are a wide variety of treatments in common practice from holistic treatments to pharmaceutical.  More information to come

 

Sites we recommend to get you started

University of Toronto Overview of ADD/ADHD

CHADD - Children and Adults living with ADD/ADHD

ADD association - the association for adults living with ADD

 

 

This page is currently in its infancy so we thank you for your patience as we continue to add and grow!

definition from faslink.org signs and symptoms from kidshealth.org

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