6 Of The Most Often Asked Questions About Childhood ADHD
There are approximately 10 million children with ADHD.
Some would argue that this number could be low due to the number of undiagnosed cases; especially in girls and those children who don't exhibit obvious ADHD symptoms.
Now if you have a few minutes to spare why don't we get down to business and explore 6 of the most often asked questions about childhood ADHD.
What is ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD, ADD, AD/HD) is a term used to describe a group of behaviors that become apparent between the ages of 4 and 7, must be present in two or more situations, and must interfere with social or academic functioning.
What causes ADHD? There are many theories as to what causes this condition including brain chemical imbalances (dopamine, norepinephrine), slow development in the areas of the brain responsible for behavior and self regulation, and/or genetics.
Each cause has its merits and each is backed by well documented research conducted by credible sources.
That said, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) scientist are not sure of the exact causes, but like many other illnesses, ADHD probably results from a combination of genetics, brain development issues, and environmental factors (nutrition, brain injuries, or social environment).
What are the symptoms of ADHD? There are no shortage of symptoms, or combination of symptoms, that a child or teen may show.
The unpredictability of symptoms only adds to the confusion surrounding ADHD and makes identifying the condition difficult.
Part of reason for the diversity in symptoms lies in fact that young people mature at different rates and have different energy levels, temperaments, and personalities.
The symptoms regularly associated with ADHD are problems paying attention, impulsivity, distractibility, and hyperactivity.
Some would argue that most children show one or more these symptoms from time to time, and they would be right.
It is only when symptoms are producing behavioral challenges, effecting academic performance, or impairing social activities that the possibility of ADHD should be looked into.
How is ADHD diagnosed? It might come as a surprise that there is no single test for ADHD.
The most common way that mental health specialists arrive at a diagnosis is by first ruling out other reasons for the symptoms.
After other causes have been ruled out the mental health specialist will then work to gain an insight into the challenges the child may be facing both at home and at school with the help of a number of ADHD testing and information forms.
What are the chances of ADHD continuing into the teenage years? Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms will continue into adolescence and the teenage years most of the time.
Statistically this can prove to be a big problem for parents with ADHD teens being twice as likely to run away from home, three times as likely to be arrested, ten times as likely to get pregnant, 400 times as likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease, and having a 400 percent greater chance of either being in a traffic accident or receiving a speeding ticket.
Once diagnosed is there anything that can be done about it? Most studies suggest with the right kind or treatment most children and teens can greatly benefit from treatment.
Prescription stimulants such as Ritalin are currently the most widely used treatment options.
That said, in recent years safety and addiction concerns have caused both medical professionals and parents to proceed with caution when considering these chemicals.
Additionally, studies show that multiple treatments tend to be more effective than any one treatment method alone.
An example of this would be the combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and one of the safe and effective over the counter homeopathic ADHD remedies.
Some would argue that this number could be low due to the number of undiagnosed cases; especially in girls and those children who don't exhibit obvious ADHD symptoms.
Now if you have a few minutes to spare why don't we get down to business and explore 6 of the most often asked questions about childhood ADHD.
What is ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD, ADD, AD/HD) is a term used to describe a group of behaviors that become apparent between the ages of 4 and 7, must be present in two or more situations, and must interfere with social or academic functioning.
What causes ADHD? There are many theories as to what causes this condition including brain chemical imbalances (dopamine, norepinephrine), slow development in the areas of the brain responsible for behavior and self regulation, and/or genetics.
Each cause has its merits and each is backed by well documented research conducted by credible sources.
That said, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) scientist are not sure of the exact causes, but like many other illnesses, ADHD probably results from a combination of genetics, brain development issues, and environmental factors (nutrition, brain injuries, or social environment).
What are the symptoms of ADHD? There are no shortage of symptoms, or combination of symptoms, that a child or teen may show.
The unpredictability of symptoms only adds to the confusion surrounding ADHD and makes identifying the condition difficult.
Part of reason for the diversity in symptoms lies in fact that young people mature at different rates and have different energy levels, temperaments, and personalities.
The symptoms regularly associated with ADHD are problems paying attention, impulsivity, distractibility, and hyperactivity.
Some would argue that most children show one or more these symptoms from time to time, and they would be right.
It is only when symptoms are producing behavioral challenges, effecting academic performance, or impairing social activities that the possibility of ADHD should be looked into.
How is ADHD diagnosed? It might come as a surprise that there is no single test for ADHD.
The most common way that mental health specialists arrive at a diagnosis is by first ruling out other reasons for the symptoms.
After other causes have been ruled out the mental health specialist will then work to gain an insight into the challenges the child may be facing both at home and at school with the help of a number of ADHD testing and information forms.
What are the chances of ADHD continuing into the teenage years? Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms will continue into adolescence and the teenage years most of the time.
Statistically this can prove to be a big problem for parents with ADHD teens being twice as likely to run away from home, three times as likely to be arrested, ten times as likely to get pregnant, 400 times as likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease, and having a 400 percent greater chance of either being in a traffic accident or receiving a speeding ticket.
Once diagnosed is there anything that can be done about it? Most studies suggest with the right kind or treatment most children and teens can greatly benefit from treatment.
Prescription stimulants such as Ritalin are currently the most widely used treatment options.
That said, in recent years safety and addiction concerns have caused both medical professionals and parents to proceed with caution when considering these chemicals.
Additionally, studies show that multiple treatments tend to be more effective than any one treatment method alone.
An example of this would be the combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and one of the safe and effective over the counter homeopathic ADHD remedies.
Source...