Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Causes, Types, Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment
This article explains about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder which is a common behavioral disorder. It also discusses the types of ADHD, the , possible causes, diagnosis, medications and s available. It also cites some tips to parents to deal with kids having ADHD.
ADHD which is also known as ADD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Attention Deficit Disorder. It is one of the most common behavioral disorders that affects mostly school-age children though in some cases it occurs in grown-ups also. About 3 to 5% of the children are diagnosed with ADHD globally and boys are 3 times more likely to be affected by this disorder than girls. This disorder is categorized as a psychiatric disorder and it is characterized by three important behaviors, namely, inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It can also be a combination of these features which is termed as "Combined ADHD".Types of ADHD
Based on the intensity and severity of the problem, ADHD is generally classified in to the following 3 types
1. ADHD/I or Predominantly inattentive type
2. ADHD/HI or predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type
3. Combined type of ADHD.(It is reported that a majority of cases of ADHD comes under the combined type)Symptoms of ADHD/I
Children with this type of ADHD
1. have difficulty focusing or paying attention to activities and therefore leave a work uncompleted.
2. are easily distracted and are forgetful of daily routines.
3. have difficulty in following instructions.
4. are careless due to which they often lose things like pencils, rubber and notebooks in school.
5. do not listen when they are directly spoken to.
6. face difficulty in organizing things and activities.
7. have trouble and difficulty in completing school assignments and homework.
8. tend to day dream and be sluggish.
9. get easily bored with the thing they have or with the work they do unless the work or thing is enjoyable to them.
10. are in the habit of switching over from one activity to another without completing the activity touched upon already.Symptoms of ADHD/HI
The hyperactive type of children
1. squirm in their seats.
2. talk incessantly.
3. keep moving around or climbing on things during waking hours.
4. engage themselves in boisterous activities.
5. have trouble sitting still during the time of dinner or at school.
6. dash around and play with anything they see.Symptoms of Impulsivity
The impulsive type of children
1. are impatient at all times.
2. are restless and find it difficult to wait for his/her turn.
3. display emotion without restraint.
4. have a tendency to interrupt others conversation or activity.
5. are in the habit of answering before listening to the question.Causes of ADHD
The factors that cause ADHD is not clearly known and therefore this disorder is not a preventable one. However, some studies into the causes of ADHD have thrown some light on the biological and genetic factors that are likely to cause ADHD. The biological aspect of the disorder is that the change in the anatomy and structure of the brain may be one of the reasons for ADHD. It has been scientifically proved that the brain of a child with ADHD is of smaller volume when compared to that of a normal child. It has also been reported that ADHD is common among identical twins.
Other studies conducted on twins revealed that ADHD can also be genetic and inherited. About 75-80% of the ADHD cases are genetically inherited. Some studies say that expectant mothers who are addicted to smoking give birth to children who are most likely to have ADHD. It has also been reported that use of alcohol and drugs during gestation period can contribute to the development of ADHD in kids. In yet another study it has been reported that exposure of children to environmental poisons like lead and poly-chlorinated biphenyls is one of the reasons to acquire ADHD. Ingestion of artificial food colors, infections during pregnancy, low birth weight, premature birth and other pregnancy complications have also been cited as the reasons that may cause ADHD in children. Social problems also create behavioral problems in children.Diagnosis of ADHD
Diagnosis of ADHD is not an easy thing. The diagnostic methods are so complex that utmost care and competence is required in identifying a case of ADHD. Not all bad behaved or unruly and naughty children are children with ADHD because the symptoms of other behavioral disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder(ODD),conduct disorder(CD) also mimic ADHD. Since the dividing line between the behaviors of a child with ADHD and those of a normal child are so thin that great care should be taken before arriving at a decision as to whether a child needs a diagnosis and treatment for his/her boisterous behavior. To achieve this task, inputs should be gathered from sources like parents, school, peer groups and analyzed in consultation with a specialist, family physician and other health care professionals along with the school teachers. It would also be of much use to follow the guidelines issued by APP to diagnose ADHD.
The guidelines are as below
1. The children must have at least 6 inattentive symptoms or 6 hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms for a period of six months.
2. The above mentioned symptoms must be observed in more than one setting such as home, school etc.,
3. The symptoms must be seen before the age of 7.
4. The symptoms must be very severe and that may cause even disruption and difficulty in communicating with peers.
5. Need to distinguish very clearly between symptoms and the impairments that are caused by the symptoms.
Medications and Treatment for ADHD
Though there is no proven way to prevent and cure ADHD yet it can be managed with right treatment. What is important is the early identification of the symptoms followed by treatment. So, the first thing to do is to have a thorough understanding of the symptoms of ADHD. The next step is accurate diagnosis and then appropriate treatment. Treatment includes behavioral therapy with stress management, training to parents and family members to cope with the behaviors of the child, brain training games and social skill training to the child and medication.
The health care professionals can help us develop a individualized treatment plan which will aid the children to improve his/her behavior. Stimulants, antidepressants and non stimulants can be given to treat ADHD. Ritalin, Adderall and Dexedrine are some of the stimulants that are generally prescribed for ADHD. Though the medication doesn't provide a complete cure, it can help relieve from symptoms temporarily. The dosages can be either short or long- acting dosages and it should be taken under strict supervision. In some cases where the stimulants does not work, doctors prescribe non stimulants and antidepressants. It has been proven that medications combined with behavioral therapy yield good results. But the considered views of a majority of health care professionals, child psychologists and child psychiatrists are that medication can be resorted to only when behavioral therapy does not yield the desired results. Some health professionals are of the opinion that medicines should not be given to children with ADHD who are less than five years of age even though medications can help control the impulsive behavior.
Here are some behavioral strategies that can aid treat an ADHD child
1. A child must follow a routine from morning to bed time.
2. A child must be taught to organize things. He/ she must be taught to put things in place. For example, shoes in shoe rack, toys in toys bag etc.,
3. The parents should explore the talents of their kid. It may be either sports, art or music.
4. Avoid excessive exposure to television and video games.
5. Help the child set goals and ensure rewarding your kid when goals are met.
6. Limit the choices given to your child.
7. Make your child realize that all privileges and rewards would be withdrawn if they display unruly behavior.Some tips for parents
As in the case of any childhood disorders, parents have vital roles to play in dealing with their child affected by ADHD. One of the important businesses of the parents in their day -to-day life should be to listen to the child and try to understand their feelings and thoughts. They should frankly discuss the conditions of ADHD with their child and be physically close to him/her. They should never fail to encourage the good things done by their kids and lose no time to ignore their kid's irksome and annoying behaviors.
The parents should understand that the bad behavior of their child is not an intentional one but only an impulsive one caused by some chemical reactions in their brain. The parents need to understand that their ADHD-affected child needs the love and support from them, from teachers and family members and from the peers. After all, the ADHD is not a dreadful disorder;many successful men and women have had it at a particular point of their life-time.What is to be borne in mind is that ADHD needs to be treated the right way and at the earliest.