ADHD & ADD

Overview

ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and ADD stands for attention deficit disorder. ADHD is the more common term for the disorder, and has been since around 1994. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurobehavioral development disorder affecting how well someone can focus, sit still and pay attention.

People who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can have differences in the parts of their brain that control their activity and attention, which means they may have difficulty focusing on certain tasks and subjects, or they may act wired, behave impulsively or get themselves into trouble. Although attention deficit hyperactivity disorder begins in childhood more often than not, it is often never diagnosed until the child becomes a teenager, or even an adult in some cases.

Types

There is essentially only one type of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but it can be filed into different categories. These categories include adult ADHD and childhood ADHD, or ADD for types of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder that do not actually involve hyperactivity.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms are:

• Impulsiveness
• Hyperactivity
• Inattention

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is such a broad category, that it can manifest itself in different ways depending on the person. Some of the most common symptoms among people suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are:

• Difficulty paying attention or keeping focus on a particular activity
• Difficulty finishing assignments or jumping from one activity to another
• Difficulty focusing on instructions and difficulty following through on things
• Losing things or forgetting things
• Easily becoming distracted
• Difficulty paying close attention to details
• Difficulty organizing activities and tasks
• Fidgeting when seated
• Feeling restless

Causes/Risk Factors

No one is as yet exactly sure what causes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but research has shown that it may be genetic, and inherited in some, but not all cases. It has also been linked to children who were born prematurely. The doctors have identified that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is caused by changes in neuro-transmitters in the brain that send messages between nerve cells within the brain. The other causes include environmental factors like alcohol, diet and social factors. But none of these factors alone can cause attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Tests/Diagnosis

Seeking out a diagnosis for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder begins with consulting a physician and possibly a counselor. Testing for this disorder is difficult, but there are enough mental symptoms and behavioral symptoms that consulting a doctor can give the answers that you seek regarding the illness.

Treatment

There is no cure for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but physicians can help to treat this disorder by helping people with ADHD manage their symptoms effectively. Some people have more trouble with the attention side of the disorder and others have difficulty with the activity side, so the treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder needs to be custom tailored to the specific patient and their symptoms and different treatments will be offered for different people who have the same disorder.