ADHD
by jmmillerADHD stand for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This disorder used to be known as ADD, attention deficit disorder, but was renamed in 1994.
ADHD is a medical condition that affects how well a person can focus, pay attention and sit still. This means the person can have trouble focusing on different tasks and subjects. They may also seem ‘weird’, get into trouble, or act impulsively.
ADHD sometimes isn’t diagnosed until teenaged years, and occasionally until adulthood. ADHD is a broad category covering different things, mostly activity, attention and impulsivity. It can show up in different ways in people.
Some signs of ADHD are when the child:
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Has difficulty paying attention or staying focused
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Fidgets with hand, feet and squirms when seated
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Is very easily distracted
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Has problems paying close attention
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Has trouble organizing tasks
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Intrudes or interrupts other people
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Feels restless
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Talks a lot and has trouble getting involved in activities quietly
A young driver with ADHD may have more accidents than their unaffected peers. It is normal for everyone to zone out during a class, leave their homework on the table or jump into a conversation. But people with ADHD have a huge problem staying focused and controlling their behavior. It effects their emotions and how well they do in school or in their everyday lives.
Doctors and researchers are still unaware why some people have ADHD. Research shows that it is possible that ADHD is genetic and may even be inherited in some cases. They are also exploring other things that could be associated with ADHD. Doctors do know that it is caused by changes in the brain chemicals that are called neurotransmitters. This means a person with a low amount of the chemical dopamine can show symptoms of ADHD.
There is no cure of ADHD. Doctors treat people helping them manage the symptoms. Most people have more trouble with the attention side of this disorder. Doctors base their treatments to the child’s symptoms. Medications, family and individual counseling and changes at school can help. Certain medicines can help someone with ADHD with impulsiveness and hyperactivity.
People with ADHD are at risk for problems with depression, learning disabilities and anxiety. They can also be at greater risk of using drugs and smoking. It is normal for a person diagnosed with ADHD to feel scared, overwhelmed or even angry. Counseling can help with those aspects.
Some good news it that doctors, teachers and counselors are learning a lot more about ADHD. They have a greater understanding of the challenges that people have dealing with ADHD. If you have any concerns about ADHD contact your family doctor.
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