Attention Deficit Disorder
Not a
day passes without each of us encountering someone that displays
inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity.
But, when these behaviors are observed in children, and when
they clearly interfere developmentally, they may be a sign of
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This condition has
been given a variety of names that have attempted to frame the
constellation of behaviors. ADHD
has been described as hyperkinesis, hyperactivity, minimal brain
damage, and minimal brain dysfunction.
It was not until the late 1970s that the American Psychiatric
Association coined the term attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
and defined it as “persistent pattern of inattention and/or
hyperactivity or impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is
typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of
development”.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is the most commonly
diagnosed behavioral disorder of childhood and has been estimated to
affect 3 to 5% of school age children. Children with ADHD have a lot
of trouble sitting still and paying attention in class and their
behaviors are often quite disruptive. The developmentally
inappropriate level of attention, concentration, activity,
distractibility, and impulsivity lead to functional impairment at
home, at school, and in peer relationships. This may cause long-term
problems in school, work, and social situations. As these children
grow older and remain untreated they may develop other conduct
disorders and experience drug abuse, anti-social behavior, and even
physical injury.
Signs of inattentiveness include poor listening skills, forgetfulness,
easy distractibility, and incompletion of activities, as well as
difficulty focusing on any one task for a sustained period.
These children also often demonstrate failure to follow
instructions accurately and completely.
The signs of impulsivity include frequent interruption,
shouting out answers before a question has been completed, and
difficulty taking turns while playing or when waiting is required.
Signs of hyperactivity include wiggling, fidgeting, constant
talking, and/or a seemingly endless source of energy.
There has been a lot of confusion and conflicting opinions about ADHD,
especially whether this is a real disorder and whether or not it can
be reliably diagnosed and effectively treated.
Another major controversy regarding ADHD involves the use of
psychostimulants (medications) and their potential overuse. World
experts on ADHD recently agreed that the diagnosis of ADHD can be made
reliably using well-tested diagnostic interview methods. There are a
wide variety of treatments for ADHD including medications,
psychosocial treatment, dietary and herbal management, as well as
biofeedback and perceptual stimulation training.
Studies have shown that medical and psychosocial treatment have
been effective in treating this condition but there is no information
on long-term outcomes with these or other treatments for ADHD.
It is thought that at least 2% of the general adult population remains
affected by ADHD. This
condition crosses ethnic boundaries and it has been demonstrated in
every nation and culture. It
is not clear what causes ADHD, although many researchers believe that
it may have a genetic basis that may be worsened by social factors.
Although,
after years of research, the cause of ADHD still remains speculative
there are effective treatments for this condition.
Not everyone who is inattentive, impulsive or hyperactive has
ADHD but when these behaviors have been displayed for more than six
months and before seven years of age, the child should be evaluated by
a family physician or pediatrician for the possibility of this
disorder.
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