Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Behind the Condition of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADHD Introduction:
The attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is classified as mental disorder. According to statistics, there are lots of cases that these disorders appear among younger children. Though you cannot distinguish it with an ordinary condition of a child’s behavioral attitude, but you have to observe carefully the child’s activity and the symptoms that this disorder can manifest. Furthermore, this condition usually characterize by different behavior that the psychologist will assess to determine the exact diagnosis on this disorder, since it is a psychological condition, then, the physician will have to gather more data to confirm the diagnosis of ADHD. Later on this page you will understand the facts and information that ADHD will bring and you will know if this will be serious case that needs to be treated and manage.
ADHD Definition and Symptoms:
The ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a psychological illness that is characterized by distractibility, inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. When you compare the typical normal child and an ADHD child you notice that they have differences in terms of behavioral patterns, like for example, hyperactivity, a child with ADHD they tend to be hyperactive with a non-stop activity, sometimes they become distracted and have violent reaction such as hitting people and spinning out of control into erratic, silly or strange behavior even if you scold them they didn’t listen. While a normal child though they are also hyperactive but once you scold them they will obey your command. Furthermore, ADHD children are usually distracted especially in an over stimulating environment and are also inattentive once the situation is dull. Also, ADHD children have impaired short-term memory, inability to manage time, there are also have lack of adaptability and have sleeping problem. In addition to this the classic symptoms that ADHD posses are inability to shift efficiently from one mental activity to another, usually also they have inability to hold information because they short-term memory, you also observe that they have inability to keep emotions from becoming overpowering, another symptoms are impaired planning and organizational skills and lastly they have difficulty in establishing and create goals to guide their behaviors. These symptoms are the classical manifestations that the psychologist uses to assess and diagnose the condition. Let us discover the causes and risk factors behind the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
ADHD Causes and risk factors:
The causes of ADHD came from different factors that responsible for the symptoms that it manifests. First cause is, because of brain chemicals inside the brain. This is due to abnormal activity of norepinephrine and dopamine, a neurotransmitters or messenger that responsible for the emotional and mental functioning in the prefrontal cortex. Once GABA, glutamate and glutamine also a brain chemicals increase they interact with the pathways that transport dopamine and norepinephrine that is why ADHD children have inability to focus. Second, the brain structure of an ADHD child has different brain size compared to normal children; they have different size of caudate nucleus, prefrontal cortex, and cerebellum and globus pallidus. Third, is genetic factor, most cases of mental disorder comes from familial history. If an ADHD runs in the family then there is a higher risk that ADHD will pass by the next generation. And lastly, environmental factors can be a risk factor in developing ADHD. Why? It is because; prenatal exposure to tobacco, alcohol and lead can increase the risk for ADHD.
ADHD Treatment and medications:
It takes a big step to have treatment in ADHD. Since the medical studies nowadays have advance development of treatment that can help in alleviating the symptoms of ADHD. The treatments include not only medications but also behavioral and psychological therapy that can contribute to the treatment course. Because the ADHD children are hyperactivity and they have inability to focus, physicians will usually prescribe medications that reduce the hyperactivity and improve their ability to focus; these drugs are methylphenidate like Methylin and Ritalin, also dextroamohetamine and penoline can be helpful. However, these medications should take serious prescription because it has many serious side effects that need to observe, like insomnia, decrease appetite, blood pressure changes, drowsiness, headache and most serious is liver toxicity. Please be very careful upon taking the medication and always follow your physician’s advice. Moreover, in the treatment plan, not only medications are sometimes included but also behavioral modification. Both parents and children teach and instruct to practice positive reinforcement techniques like giving rewards for desirable behavior because this way it can lessen the negative behavior. Some strategies includes develop a written agreement with your child, in which they will agree to certain activities that you command, like doing home works and demonstrate good behavior then reward them on the end once they follow the agreement. Discipline your child as well if and only of they did not follow the agreement, like they have a consequence if each rule is broken. Also, provide a time-out location when a child is out of control, meaning, you need to calm down a child’s behavior and never punish them for it can aggravate their behavior. Another, avoid emotional reactions like sarcasm, anger and mockery. On the other hand, social skills or self-management among ADHD children helps them divert their aggressiveness, maladaptive behaviors and impulsivity. Furthermore, psychotherapy and counseling can also be a big help to them. These are individual, family and cognitive behavioral therapy. These therapies are so effective among ADHD children for it can help them relieve and alleviate their stress, depression, emotional problems and their self-esteem. In terms of school situation, teachers are also be train to handle such ADHD children so that they can be able to manage their behavior without causing any danger to each other. Indeed, it is a big effort to handle cases such ADHD because it can be a great challenge to manage them.
ADHD Prevention:
We cannot prevent ADHD to develop; however, there are factors that need to prevent in order to alleviate the symptoms that the disorder will manifest. First, as a parent you need to prevent foods that stimulate the aggressiveness of your ADHD children, such as caffeinated beverages, instead give them foods that rich in nutrients that supply their excessive energy production. They should focus on the vitamins and minerals that their ADHD children needs.
ADHD Complications:
Having an ADHD patient needs to be understand and should have a long patience to their behavior. However, if the problems are not anymore easy to handle both by parents and significant others then complications happen. First, there social aspects will get complicated. How? Well, ADHD patients tend to have anti-social behavior, because of their aggressiveness; they have trouble in getting along with other normal individual, and less likely their peers will sometimes don’t like them around. Furthermore, ADHD patients usually spend time alone, when a negative behavior tends to be going until the child reach young adult and then their behavior will be at high risk because it leads to criminal activity and delinquent behavior. Another complication is emotional problems, know why? For they like to suffer low self-esteem. Since they have problems in coping mechanisms, their emotional coping is likely very low and they cannot easily get along with other peers they have. Also, if ADHD is not properly train it will lead to complications like learning problems and substance abuse. According to surveys there are 20% of 11 years old and above ADHD children engage in alcoholism and smoking. Since the condition of ADHD, family should have wider understanding on their ADHD patient. They should show their unconditional love and longer patience in order to prevent complications to happen.
Herbal Remedies for ADHD:
On the other hand, there are alternative approaches like natural alternatives or herbal remedies that can also contribute in alleviating the symptoms of ADHD. They found out that this approaches are very effective in treating the condition because it balance the brain chemistry naturally without harmful side effects that brought about by medications. Herbs like German Chamomile, Gotu Kola, Gingko Biloba, Scuttelaria or Skullcap, Lemon Balm, Valerian, Hawthorn, Rooibos and Lobelia can be a great help among children with has ADHD. However, you need to know the considerations that should be avoided in order to avoid stimulations on the behavior of ADHD. First, you need to avoid soft drinks or any caffeinated beverages for this are stimulants that trigger the symptoms. Second, avoid too much sugar. Research shows that too much consumption of sugar leads to aggressiveness and restless behavior. And most importantly, have your ADHD children get plenty of sunlight. These herbal remedies can be a great help if you want to go on herbal rather than medications.
ADHD Diagnosis:
In diagnosing ADHD, physicians usually diagnose them based on the symptoms present in the guidelines before the children reach the age of 7 years old. Physician observe the children about the symptoms that they manifest, if either 2 or more are present then it can be a factor in diagnosing. Also, they consider that these symptoms appear both in school and in home. Consistently, the physician will observe the child for almost 6 months before they will confirm the diagnoses so that they will have more evidence before they have the final diagnosis. Upon gathering data, physicians will categorize this into three subtypes like, behavior marked by inattentiveness but not impulsivity and hyperactivity, behavior marked by impulsivity and hyperactivity but not in inattentiveness and a combination of these two categories. Also, right diagnosis requires detailed report from caregivers and parents about the observation to their child. They should not be shy in verbalizing this so that the physician will rightfully have strong data upon diagnosing. Hence there are no laboratory support in diagnosing the condition, it is important to rely only on behavioral symptoms thus ruling out other disorder to prevent misdiagnosing, for there are factors that leads to misdiagnosing, so careful observation and pertinent data gathering should be a plus. If these factors are carefully follow and observe then there is great evidence in strongly diagnosing the condition as an ADHD child. Once diagnosing is finally done then, a treatment plan will be develop therapeutically. On the other hand, in diagnosing adult behavior, physicians will use adult reports of childhood behaviors and experiences when searching for clues for a diagnosis. Additionally, they have list of rating scales according to the manifestations of adult symptoms since child and adult symptoms are often similar.
ADHD : Improve concentration:
The individual that has an ADHD they should train in how to improve their own concentrations. It should be important to have improves concentration so that they will not have inattentiveness. Here are some examples on how to improve the concentration of an ADHD individual. First, have a relaxation and positive imagery, cognitive exercises that will help your ADHD patient lessen the symptoms they suffer. Show your kids how to have breathing exercises and how to visualize things contain images, this will improves skills and they also be creative enough to learn new sets of skills. This way, their behavior will change from time to time. Second, bond to your child by playing crossword puzzles and even picture puzzles, for improve attention and concentration. And lastly, do mind-body integration. This activity strengthens the neural connections between brain and body, and it also improves self-control. By doing these activities together with your child you cannot only promote bonding but also it improves the concentration of your ADHD patients.
Conclusion:
Having ADHD patients in the family is a great challenge on how to handle such condition like this. But, as a parent immediate caregivers to them, always find time to spend a joyous playful activities involving cognitive functions for it can be helpful to their conditions. Also, the family should always show their unconditional love towards their ADHD patients.
