It’s time to talk about Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder– a disorder becoming more and more prevalent among children today.
Attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are both disorders that affect one's ability to focus.
however, there are slight differences between ADD and ADHD.
People who suffer from ADHD are hyperactive. This means that they may have trouble sitting still along with behaviour problems and impulsivity.
People who suffer from ADD are much more difficult to recognise and diagnose because they do not exhibit any outward hyperactivity. To someone who does not understand ADD, they may seem as if they are shy or daydream often.
ADHD affects 10% of all children and more boys are diagnosed with ADHD than girls.
Attention deficit disorder affects a child’s daily functioning. They may have trouble completing their school work and are often in trouble with teachers and parents.
When left undiagnosed or mistreated, it can lead to low self-esteem and other behavioural problems in the years to come.
Adult statistics show that 10% of all adults suffer from ADHD and an equal number of adult males and females have ADHD.
Because of this data, studies believe ADD or ADHD can easily be missed in very intelligent children, especially females.
Additionally, adults with ADD will often experience problems at work or in relationships.
There are three major issues when it comes to ADD and ADHD.
First is the inability to regulate attention, then, the inability to regulate activity, and lastly difficulty with inhibitory behaviour resulting in impulsivity.
In many cases, children with ADHD act impulsively, are restless and may have trouble controlling their emotions.
Almost all children will exhibit these symptoms from time to time. However, if this behaviour is affecting academic or social progress, there are steps parents can take to help their children manage this difficult condition.
Treatment for ADHD must always include a multi-faceted approach. What this means is that the treatment should incorporate different hemispheres of healing and learning.
The first step towards treatment should always be education about ADHD or ADD.
Your child and anyone who deals with him or her on a daily basis needs to understand the condition and how it affects social interactions. Education has been proven to increase the chance that patients will continue with long-term treatment.
The next step is to arrange regular visits to a medical practitioner who can offer behavioural therapy and who can regularly assess what exercises and medications would work best for your child.
Not all children need ADHD medication and in many cases, good behavioural therapy and hard work from the parents, children and a medical professional can be enough to overcome ADHD and ADD's many obstacles.
There is an ADD and ADHD epidemic going on with as many as 1 in 10 children being diagnosed.
While there is no doubt that many people do indeed suffer from these conditions, there is a margin for error that could leave unsuspecting parents medicating their children for the wrong conditions. ADHD and ADD should only be diagnosed after all other medical and neurologic conditions are ruled out.
Here are some conditions that may mimic ADD or ADHD symptoms:
Stimulants improve everyone's attention at first, however, many of these conditions listed above are not treatable using ADD and ADHD medication.
It is important for parents, teachers and children to work hand-in-hand with a trusted healthcare professional in order to truly understand the issues that your child is experiencing. This is so that you can find a treatment for whatever it may be that is holding your child back from reaching their full potential.
Parents at Kay-Dee Educare, if you feel your child may have ADD or ADHD, please contact us and will be happy to work together with you and your healthcare professional.
Get the latest updates in your email box automatically.
Your nickname:
Email address:
Subscribe