ADD And ADHD

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - definition, symptoms and treatment.

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Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are the most common psychiatric conditions among children in the United States. Differing estimates suggest that 3 percent to 10 percent of school-age children have ADD/ADHD, disorders that are characterized by consistent inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsiveness. Diagnosing ADD/ADHD is difficult, since most people, and especially children, are impulsive or inattentive some of the time. However, a patient with ADD/ADHD demonstrates these behaviors to a degree that is inappropriate to a person's age, according to guidelines from the National Institute of Mental Health.

To assess whether a child has ADD/ADHD, specialists observe certain behaviors and consider several critical questions:

The child gets distracted easily, or pays attention to the wrong thing
The child avoids doing homework or chores, and when he does them, he does not finish
The child is often forgetful and disorganized
The child does not seem to listen when spoken to
The child makes a lot of careless mistakes
The child tends to do things without thinking about them first
The child does not consider the consequences of his actions
The child is "on the go" as if he is "driven by a motor"
These behaviors are excessive, long-term, and pervasive
These behaviors occur more often than considered "normal" in other children the same age
These behaviors are a continuous problem, not just a response to a temporary situation
These behaviors occur in several settings

The person's pattern of behavior is compared against a set of criteria and characteristics of the disorder as listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR).

Researchers have discovered that these disorders often coexist with other conditions like depression and anxiety. Recent studies show that teenagers and adults with ADD/ADHD are more likely to develop harmful health behaviors such as drug abuse and reckless driving.

Treatment: Some pathways used to help with ADD/ADHD disorders are: more comprehensive parental involvement and supervision, special classes for ADD/ADHD children at school, therapy and counseling, possible medications such as Ritalin, Dexedrine and Adderall, and specialty (boarding) schools.