Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Describe the features of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), causal factors, treatment and outcomes
The three main symptons are Attention deficit, hyperactivity and poor impulse control.
Attention Deficit - difficulty concentrating and sustaining attention to tasks, easily distracted, short attention span,. gets bored very quickly and easily, underachieves and school and/or work, struggles to complete tasks in required time, difficulty getting start on tasks and staying on task. Doesnt pay attention and has trouble llistining.
Hyperactivity - talks a lot, very loud, always feels restless, requires less sleep than most, full of energy and always on the go. Runs about and climbs a lot when its innapropriate, cant stand still or sit still, has trouble remaining seated. Struggles to just walk and always wants to skip and run.
Poor impulse control - doesnt consider the consequences of their actions, gets in trouble a lot, lives in the moment with little forethought, has trouble waiting turns or waiting for things, interrupts and intrudes on others, blurts things out without thinking.
There are 3 types of ADHD. The most common is ADHD type C (combined type). In this type ADHD sufferers have both the problems of attention deficit and learning difficulties as well as the hyperactivity and behavior problems. The next most common is ADHD type A innatentive type) in this type there are the learning and attention problems but not the hyperactivity and behavioural problem type. Then there is ADHD type B (hyperactive/impulsive type).
For it to be diagnosed as ADHD it must also be
1. Pervasive, the problems should occur in all area's not just school or home. But in school, home, work, when doing things they enjoy, playing sprt, watching TV, socialising with friends and so on.
2. Chronic - the problems must have affected them for their whole lives, although they may not ahve been as much of an issue before age 5.
3. Severe - everyone has these symptoms to some degree, to be diagnosed with ADHD it but have caused significant dysfunction in their lives and be far more severe than others their age and gender.
ADHD is a genetic condition, it is ressesive. If a parent, sibling or close relative has the disorder then there is a 1 in 3 chance the child will have it.
ADHD is in born and the symptoms may be obvious from birth (ie very active baby) or they may not. It can be hard to diagnose before a child starts school unless it is very severe as kids dont have the need to sit still and pay attention and concentrate, so probloems arent always obvious until age 5 or 6. Also all young kids have these problems as their brains are not yet developed. But an ADHD kid will not grow out of these problems the way a normal child will.
A small number of people with ADHD will actually gropw out of it. improvement may begin in their early teens years and progress slowly up to adulthood. A small number of those with ADHD will remain just as severe or even get worse as they get older. It is more common for boys to grow out of the disorder and more common for girls to suffer it their whole lives as female hormones make ADHD much worse as a girl gets older.
Most ADHDers will improve in their condition but still continue to have it as adults but not as severely as they did as kids.
The main treatment for ADHD is medication, it cant cure the disorder but it can aleiviate the symptoms. Medications called stimulants are best because they increase the activity level in the part of the brain that is underfunctioning.
Diet is also a popular treatment, as many foods make ADHD much worse like colors, flavors, preservatives and additives. Also a low carbohydrate and high protein diet will improve things.
Exersize also helps a lot, and 30 minutes of aerobic exersize each day can improvee things.
Other treatemnts include, behaviour management, biofeedback and councelling.
No comments:
Post a Comment