ADHD

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Overview.

 

What are the symptoms?

 

The symptoms include but are not limited to:
Hyperactivity
Restlessness/fidgety
Inability to complete an activity before moving on to another.
This includes remaining seated and remaining on task. Intrusive behaviour.
Impulsive-will act before thinking.
Excitable/aggressive and disruptive behaviour.
Difficulty waiting turns in group and game situations and in quiet play.
Short attention span/but also very demanding of attention from others.
Will engage in physically dangerous activities without thinking of the consequences.
Untidy and disorganised.
Poor self and social awareness.
Inappropriate verbal exchanges will butt in on conversations and talks excessively not listening to verbal instructions.
May not appear to have heard what has been what is said to them.
Poor eye contact and/or motor regulations
Poor sleep patterns.
Often an academic underachiever despite being bright/inelegant.
Seeks instant gratification/ often on a quest for intense stimulation or buzz.

Please note not all symptoms are present in children with ADAD and people without ADAD may also display these characteristics.

 

How is ADHD diagnosed?

 

The first port of call should be the Childs school or doctor.


From there they should be able to refer you to a specialist such as an educational physiologists or a clinic specialising in attention disorders.

 

How can it be treated/ is there any cure?


Unfortunately ADHD is a life long condition and has no cure.
However medication such as “Ritalin” may be beneficial to your child. A specialist will be able to discuss this in more detail with you. Patients may also be prescribed anti depressants, or stimulants.
However medication may not be beneficial to everyone.

 

What causes it?


Officially nobody is certain however evidence is now pointing towards genetics. If there is a close relative in the family then there is an increased chance a child may be born with it. However it is not just down to genetic factors. There is also a neurological factor to be considered, experts now believe that ADHD results from a problem in the part of the brain that controls our impulses and ability to concentrate. In scientific terms this part of the brain is called the prefrontal cortex.

 

 

Sources for this page.
http://www.adhdinfo.com/info/school/about/sch_what_causes_adhd.jsp?checked=y
http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/dc/caz/neur/adhd/acauses.jsp
http://premium.netdoktor.com/uk/adhd/childhood/behaviour/article.jsp?articleIdent=uk.adhd.childhood.behaviour.uk_adhd_xmlarticle_004622
http://www.youngminds.org.uk/adhd/p3.php
And the following books.


Marching to a different Tune, Diary of an ADHD boy by Jackie Fletcher
Child care and Education (Third Edition) by Tina Bruce and Carolyn Meggit
Taking charge of ADHD by Russell A. Barkley, PhD.

 

Created on the 29/6/05 by Angela Dunn. Hartlepool Dyspraxia Support Group is not responsible for the content of external sites.