Brinda S
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
INTRODUCTION
So,
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is known to be a mental health disorder. This disorder has issues related to inattention, or excessive/ hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It is a neurodevelopment disorder and not a “disability”. ADHD is seen both in children as well as adults. It usually appears by the age of six. The symptoms must be going on for at least 6 months before they can be diagnosed. Attention deficit disorder(ADD) was previously used and ADHD is the current term of the condition. The term ADHD became official in May 2013, when the APA released the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
Types of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive
- Predominantly Inattentive
- Combined
1. Predominantly Hyperactivity disorders
This occurs when there are symptoms of hyperactivity and there is a struggle with impulse control but not much trouble with inattention. It is often seen in younger children, it is very easy to spot.
2. Predominantly Inattentive
They are easily distracted and there is no behavioral problem like hyperactivity and impulse control. Their problem with attention may still cause difficulty.
3.Combined
When a person has symptoms of both hyperactivity and inattention.
ADHD in Children
It affects about 5–7% of children when diagnosed via the DSM-IV criteria. ADHD is diagnosed two times more in boys than girls.
Is it normal kid behavior or ADHD?
If the kid continues to do a set of behavior for only a period of time, it a normal behavior but if the behavior pattern is repeated continuously for a period of time, it may be ADHD.
Symptoms :
- Have trouble paying attention and staying focused
- Trouble organizing
- Forgetfulness ( homework)
- Constant motion
- Interrupt others
- No patience
- Talks excessively
Positive effects of ADHD on kids :
- Creativity – children who have ADHD tend to daydream a-lot, they seem to think of several different things at once. They do get distracted frequently but sometimes they are able to notice what others can not.
- Energy – As they are hyper, when motivated they are focused and the energy produced is indeed good
- Flexibility – As they have many thoughts running in their head simultaneously, they are flexible towards all of them.
- Enthusiasm
complications:
- struggle in academics
- frequent injuries
- find it hard to socialize
- poor self-esteem
Parenting tips for children with ADHD:
- encourage them
- set timetable and be persistent
- they should have a good sleep
- proper diet
- help them socialize
ADHD IN ADULTS
Adult’s symptoms start at childhood and continue until adulthood. Adult ADHD can lead to unstable relationships, poor performance, low self-esteem, etc. Adult ADHD symptoms are difficult to spot unlike symptoms in children.
Symptoms:
- impulsiveness
- poor time management
- problem focusing on tasks
- frequent mood swings
- frustration
- difficulty coping with stress
- bad temper
Complications:
- Poor self-esteem
- Suicidal attempts
- Unemployment
- Accidents
- Alcohol or any substance abuse
Tips for coping with ADHD
- reminders
- using lists
- using the calendar
Causes of ADHD
There is no single cause of ADHD. Scientists agree that it is a mental disorder and it affects different parts of the brain.
Genetics
ADHD can run in families which are passed down to generations together and show that genes play a significant role. ADHD presents with low Dopamine functioning. Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that helps move signals from one nerve to another. It plays a role in triggering emotional responses and movements.
Environment
Environment factors play a vital role in causing ADHD
- pregnant women drinking alcohol causing FAS ( Fetal alcohol syndrome) which an include ADHD
- smoking during pregnancy
- injury to the head
- premature birth
- very low birth weight
- environmental toxins like lead
The Difference in brain structure:
- There is a reduction of volume in certain brain structures, proportionally a greater decrease in the volume in the left-sided prefrontal cortex.
- Posterior parietal cortex shows thinning in individuals with ADHD
- accumbent, amygdala, caudate, hippocampus, and putamen is seen to be smaller
- a relative decrease in the size of the cerebellum
TREATMENT
Treatment for ADHD contains both therapies and medication. Therapies include psychotherapy, talk therapy, behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, interpersonal therapy, family therapy, and social skills. In these therapies, one talks about how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has affected their lives. socializing will help as well.
Medication
Stimulant medications are the pharmaceutical treatment of one’s choice. Stimulants may also reduce the risk of accidents in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Stimulants appear to improve academic performances whereas non-stimulant does not. Non-stimulant medications like atomoxetine and bupropion can be used as alternatives or added to stimulant therapy even though stimulants and non-stimulants are usually safe but they have side effects like everything else. Stimulant therapy should be stopped periodically to assess whether one needs continuing for medication, decrease possible growth delay, and reduce tolerance. Continuous misuse of stimulant therapy leads to addiction. Children taking these medications should be monitored regularly. These medications during pregnancy are not prescribed as there are no clear results.
Natural remedies
- Regular physical exercise especially aerobic exercise
- eat balanced diet food at regular interval of time
- plenty of sleep
- socialize
- mindfulness medication.
Final Outlook
For children and adults with ADHD Disorder are advised to go to treatment as soon as possible, it will avoid future problems. Few basic natural remedies did every day will have a good impact. It is important to keep in mind that is okay to seek help. Disorders do not define anyone but it makes them stronger.
How can one identify that they have ADHD? What are the markers or signs?
One can identify that they have ADHD by comparing their behaviour and symptoms. In children, parents should notify the behaviour of the child. In adults, symptoms like impulsiveness, poor time management problem, focusing on tasks, frequent mood swings and frustration when it starts to affect your daily life one needs to consult a psychologist.
Thank you for your response.
How common is this disorder ? ( In a particular number of people say 100 what is the probability that one might have)
Around 8 out of every 100 children and around 2 out of every 100 adults.
Thank you
Good information! Keep going!
Very informative
In case a adult is suffering from adh
And undergoes treatments. What’s the time phrase that one can expect for recovery?
Individuals with ADHD can experience mental health recovery and that depends on person to person.
Very informative
Thank you so much
This is very well written! Really like it!
This is really an important piece of information.
Thank you.
very nice piece. well written.
Thank you so much.
I did an internship on special children. This is great. Keep it up!
Thank you so much.
so nicely written!
Thank you so much.
Very informative
Thank you.
Very informative
Beautifully written
Ur work is very comprehensive and detailed. It’s is informative and easily understandable. Nice article.
Beautifully written
Very informative!
Educating people about a disorder like ADHD is the need of the hour. Your information about the disorder is precious, however if you could add a case study, or even a link of the same, it would be really helpful. Your article is a lovely initiative
It was an exceptionally well-written article and created many interesting suggestions on the subject.
The article was really amazing and helpful. I would suggest using simpler terms for example when explaining the difference in brain structure so that more people can understand you better. Apart from that the article was superb. Great job 🙂
Hello! The article is very informative:). It emphasizes natural remedies of ADHD which people can apply in their lives. Thank you for raising awareness.
This is very well written! Great job! I’d like to know more about the treatment of these patients and how the disorder affects them as social beings.
I really liked the article, but it would be better if you’d explain exactly how the instructions are stated, in the DSM V ,for a psychologist to give the diagnosis of ADHD.
It was really nice though, and very informative.
ADHD is usually communicated with school councillor. Because they will be more prone to this disorder. I like your way of writing✍️
Exquisitely written, however, i would suggest you could have added that ADHD appears later in puberty stage. Also, if you could elaborate a little on enthusiasm point in your article.
Wowww..amazing work
Yeah many people with ADHD aren’t hyperactive at all,so by the time they reach adulthood,they have calmed down (at least on the outside).This explains why ADHD is now being diagnosed in adults,and not being restrained as a childhood condition only.There are people who might have traits of ADHD ,but they night not be impaired with this condition.Lastly,ADHD is a lifelong condition.It can be controlled but never cured.
It’s brilliantly written.. This helped me understand a complex behaviour.
Appreciate your efforts..
This was really good. ADHD is seemingly more frequently diagnosed in the past decade and it’s is vital for everyone to learn about it so we can accept people with ADHD as part of our society instead of tagging them and treating them as outcasts. Thank you for this
I like how u’ve done in depth research
Very Informative.
Amazing content. One of the most important topic and your content is helpful.
It is very informative. I enjoyed reading it, well written article.
Its really informative… Nicely written! Its one of the most informative article I’ve read until now. Really good piece.
Firstly, I liked that you stated that ADHD is a disorder and not a disability, it’s so important for people to know this fact. Another thing, your language was easy, comprehensive for average people especially parents and people who have it. It’s a nice article.
It was an extremely detailed article about ADHD. I learned that it even affects the adults. I knew only about its prevalence in kids. Also the mention of detailed symptoms, helps in better understanding and identification of syndrome.
Great work!
This was one of the best article till now, very informative and concise. It is very comprehensive and very well written. Loved to read it.
A very helpful and informative read about ADHD. Also, the fact that ADHD in adults which often tends to be overlooked was explained very well.
Also strategies like –
A calm , non distracting environment , Deep Breathing techniques, Yoga , and gradually helping them build their attention span by initially giving them short duration activities and gradually increasing the duration of activities. Also, group therapy and social skills for kids where appropriate behavior can be encouraged.
Mindfulness can be encouraged for adults.
Well researched and well put together article. Keep up the good work 🙂
hey, it is really good to see how you managed to explain the necessary information in layman’s term with out making it too technical and difficult to understand. I personally have experience in dealing with ADHD adult who happens to be my friend. the symptoms mentioned here match exactly to her behavior patterns with constant mood swings, low self esteem. but apart from this what makes her different is her creativity skill. She is an extremely creative person. And i feel that is also the beauty of it, you can never the predict anything about the person and somewhere that makes them interesting too.
Very well structured and easy to understand, great work!
Yes ADHD can be a serious disorder if not taken into look. But the treatment for it is never for a parent to become strict or just ignore the child and be harsh on them. Rather , therapies to keep them engaged and happy. As long as they are happy they surely flourish
I like that you have written the article in simple words. You have written about every point briefly. It is good for those who want to know what is ADHD in short and simple terms. Good work done.
Hey Brinda, first of all thank you for this article. It was truly well written, and covered all the points nicely. I actually have a particular interest towards studying ADHD, since I seem to have struggling with some symptoms myself (undiagnosed). The changes in the brain structure between individuals with and without ADHD was really cool, and it made me realize how often people overlook that mental issues actually affect people physically as well. I would like to know your opinion on whether there should be any specific privileges for people struggling with this issue in workplaces and schools? What do you think about it?
Once again, a really nice article, thank you for the information!
Tysm, it was very much informative
A very important topic, we need more awareness among parents on ADHD. This article is very accurate and all the remedies are practical.
Such a detailed and informative article! Just a little suggestion – some more statistics and numbers would greatly support your info, do try to include more of them. Otherwise, great work. It gives so much info that for someone like me who’s not read much about ADHD, I feel I have a good understanding of this topic just after reading this article. Commendable work
A very well-written and detailed piece of work. One thing I liked was that it gave all the information one would need while also being very concise and not burdening the reader with too much information. Kudos!
By reading this article, I came to know a lot about ADHD. This is a perfect article with many info regarding ADHD.
I really like this article. How common is this in children ?
Heyya, i really found your article informative & interesting too. I really appreciate your efforts.
Being a fam❤️ on this platform i just want to suggest uh that uh can also have added this info,
Brain development is also slower in people with ADHD. The neural pathways don’t connect and mature at the same rate, making it harder to pay attention and focus.ADHD impacts brain chemistry, too.
That is a well-written and informative write up. It would have been helpful if you had elaborated a little further about the ways of coping with ADHD both in terms of children and adults. Keep up the good work. Take care.
Should medication be the first preference for kids or adults if the individual feels the situation is serious ? Overall well written and very informative. Keep it up.