Causes Adhd In Children And Adults example essay topic

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, is a condition that results in easy distractibility, impulsiveness, and for some people, greatly increased activity levels. This increased activity may be learned compensation for a very under aroused central nervous system. Moderate to severe levels of the disorder are accompanied by poor school and social performance. Children and adults with the disorder are likely to be seen as underachievers. Often, there are academic problems surrounding poor reading comprehension, difficulty completing tasks, and not tuning in work on time or at all. These children and adults may be forgetful, may appear or become uncooperative and typically develop negative self images as they experience failure and are given negative messages about themselves by schools, parents, and peers.

They often appear not to be listening or to lose interest easily. They are easily hurt or oversensitive. They may appear to lack judgement in social situations, failing to take other needs and social conventions into account. These characteristics seem to fit a lot of people, including some close friends and family of the author. This helped the author choose the topic of ADHD, to further understand what prompts the actions and behaviors of these people.

Although there is no cure for ADHD, doctors and psychologists think they have found out what causes ADHD in children and adults today. The first knowledge of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder came from children, before we knew that the syndrome continued into adulthood. A conservative estimate would be that 5 percent of school -age children have ADHD, and yet it remains poorly understood my the general public, often going unrecognized or misdiagnosed. The symptoms, distractibility, impulsivity, and high activity, are commonly associated with children in general that the diagnosis is often not considered. A child with undiagnosed ADHD is thought to be just being a child, only more so. it wouldn t occur to anyone that the more so was a tip-off to a medical diagnosis in advance. For those children who do have ADHD it is of great importance that the diagnosis be made as early as possible so as to minimize the damage to self-esteem that usually occurs when these children are misunderstood and labeled lazy or defiant or odd or bad.

Through a survey of ten male college students and four female college students, 33 percent of the male students had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, while none of the female students had been diagnosed. 50 percent of those surveyed had a family member who had been diagnosed with ADHD, all of which were male relatives. 75 percent of those with ADHD had a family member also with the disorder. Other research shows that attention disorders tend to run in families, so there are likely to be genetic influences.

Children who have ADHD usually have at least one close relative who also had ADHD. There is no specific number on the probability that a parent with ADHD will pass it to their child. But, research has found that 51 percent of the identical sets both twins had ADHD, while only 33 percent of those in the fraternal group shared the ADHD diagnosis. 79 percent of the students surveyed reported signs of inattention and 50 percent signs of hyperactivity and impulsivity. 25 percent of he females reported signs of hyperactivity and impulsivity, while 43 percent of the males without ADHD reported these signs and all of the males with ADHD had the same feelings. 75 percent of the females, 71 percent of the males without ADHD, and all of the males with ADHD had signs of inattention.

These results do not mean that fifty percent of those surveyed have ADHD but do not recognize it. The key to the diagnosis of ADHD is in the persons history, their own recollection of their life by the observation of those close to them: parents, spouse, teacher, sibling, friend. There is no definitive test for ADHD, no blood test, or PET scan or X ray, no psychological testing score. The most important test in the making of the diagnosis of ADHD is through knowledge of an individual's history.

Therefore, the simple survey given can not be used as a test for ADHD, while just a simple survey. 75 percent of females and all of the males reported abusing at least one drug and all of those who reported having ADHD, said that they abuse cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs, including marijuana. The students with ADHD were the only ones surveyed who abused all of the drugs listed. Some possible reasons for the high abuse among those who have ADHD may be that alcohol reduces, in the short term, the anxiety commonly associated with ADHD. Unfortunately, in the long run, alcohol is a depressant, and the daily withdrawal or hangover associated with chronic abuse increases anxiety. Similarly, marijuana tends to quiet the noise inside, to help the individual.

This is also a short-term effect, and the repeated use of marijuana as an antianxiety agent is associated with a decrease in motivation. 72 percent of the students surveyed said that art was their favorite subject in high school. This number actually seems low considering all those who were studying go to an art college. All of those who reported having ADHD said that art was their favorite subject, this may be because people with ADHD tend to be very creative in nature.

ADHD has been listed as the most common reason for referral and diagnosis in children seen in psychological clinics. Yet, few schools, psychologists, or pediatricians test or diagnose creativity in children who are having problems in school, in spite of the fact that it has been found that highly creative children engage in "disruptive, attention-seeking behavior' in the classroom. Not all creative individuals exhibit impulsivity, motor hyperactivity, and inattention. But, not all children who have ADHD behaviors will be highly creative.

The specific concern is for creative children whose behaviors may be seen as maladaptive in school and who are incorrectly diagnosed as suffering from ADHD, the reverse situation could also occur, i. e., children with ADHD incorrectly labeled as creative, it is unlikely because creativity is infrequently identified. On the other hand, ADHD has been listed as the most common reason for referral and diagnosis in children seen in psychological clinics. Furthermore, the consequences of incorrectly labeling a child as creative are not as severe as those for incorrectly labeling someone as ADHD. It is clear that having ADHD can affect your ability to learn in a highly stimulating environment such as a noisy classroom due to the amount of auditory and visual distractions. However, ADHD is not a learning disability. If an individual functions at least one a half to two years below grade level as the result of ADHD, the same criteria for services for children with learning disabilities can apply to that individual as well.

One reason why people think that ADHD is a learning disability is because so many children and adults have a learning disability along with their ADHD. It is not known exactly how many people have both, but various studies indicate that twenty-five to fifty percent of people with ADHD also have learning disabilities. There are a few different forms of treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity. these include psycho-education, parenting classes, school based interventions, medication (including herbs and homeopathic drugs), behavioral therapies, and social skills training. Psycho-education is what parents and children need to understand about the scope of the problem. ADHD problems can affect children and adults socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. As a parent one needs to seek out information about the disorder to better understand it.

The most effective treatments for ADHD are behavioral interventions. They include: organization and time management, family therapy focusing on structure and management strategies, individual therapy focusing on changing behaviors, social skills training for children, and EEG Biofeedback for increased concentration. School based interventions are for children who qualify as learning disabled or who perform 1.5-2 years below their grade level. They can receive remedial help with reading, spelling, math, organization, coordination, and / or speech therapy. This may also include counseling and adaptive P.E. or occupational therapy.

The various medications that are in use in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can dramatically improve the quality of an individual's life. When the medication is effective, the results can be truly life-changing. However, medication does not work for everyone and for those it does help, it ameliorates but does not cure the syndrome. When the medication is effective, it can help the individual focus better. sustain effort over a longer period of time, reduce anxiety and frustration, reduce irritability and mood swings, increase efficiency by enhancing concentration as well as reducing time lost in distraction, and increase impulse control. These primary effects, may lead to secondary effects of increased confidence, a sense of well-being, and greater self-esteem. The medication does not always work, and even when it does, sometimes it must be discontinued due to intolerable side effects.

In these cases the non medication forms can sill produce significant gains. Some of the natural remedies which are supposed to be effective in the treatment of ADHD include Alert, Gink o Biloba, melatonin, Saint johns Wort, and Zinc Sulph at. Two of the three survey participants with ADHD are taking Ritalin and the other is taking Adderall for ADHD. Ritalin is the most common stimulant for treating ADHD, others include Aderrall, Dexedrine, and Cy lert. As their name implies, the stimulants act on neurotransmitters to activate or stimulate the central nervous system. In ADHD this has the effect of helping the individual to focus or attend more fully than before. they also have a mood leveling effect.

A few things that the drug does not due is cloud up the sensorium of the individual taking the medication. It does not take away from the persons creativity that many people with ADHD have. However, there may be some side-effects. The most common with Ritalin is suppression of appetite and moss of sleep. Blood pressure and heart rate may also increase. these side-effects are dose related and may be avoided by lowering the dosage. In addition, when the medication wears off, the individual may feel a letdown or change of mood.

By changing the timing of the dose, this may also be avoided. Adderall is an amphetamine with similar effects and side effects like Ritalin. The most common side effects are loss of appetite, insomnia, and headaches. There are many different theories on the cause of Attention Deficit Disorder.

They include hypothyroidism, lead in toxicity, and diet deficiencies. Hypothyroidism is a low metabolic rate that causes difficulty in concentration and attention span. In children, this may manifest paradoxically as hyperactivity while adults typically display fatigue. A simple screening test is the basal axillary temperatures, as a low temperature correlates with hypothyroidism. (This is the temperature of the body at rest, done first thing in the morning before getting out of bed and is taken under the arm.) Thyroid replacement therapy in these individuals can work as dramatically as Ritalin or other stimulants. Lead poisoning is increasingly being recognized as a problem in children.

One in six children have high blood lead levels, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Mercury, lead and other "heavy' metals are neurotoxic and can cause behavioral, cognitive or neurologic problems, such as hyperactivity, decreased IQ, poor coordination, etc. Lead can come from lead based paints, lead pipes, hobbies, batteries, old or imported pottery or leaded gasoline. Use of leaded gasoline has raised the lead levels in the environment by as much as an estimated 40,000 times the level in 1900. Despite elimination of leaded gasoline, the background level still remains at 30,000 times the level of a hundred years ago. Use of a good quality water filter may be important.

Diet and Nutritional Deficiencies are also linked to ADHD. Sugar consumption is thought to be the cause of many health problems in the West, including tooth decay, diabetes, and obesity. Whole foods that are naturally sweet have accompanying nutrients that aid in the ingestion of the sugars. Refined sugars are missing these nutrients, this creates a problem for the body in the process of sugar metabolism. Excessive production of insulin can affect concentration, mood and behavior. It is important to eliminate sugar and refined carbohydrates.

It can cause sleepless nights, anger, mood changes, depression, fear, anxiety and obesity and hyperinsulism, resulting in increased risk for many diseases. Salts can affect the nerve and energy patterns of the entire body and multiple symptoms can occur including hyperactivity and learning disabilities. Other suggestions for the cause of ADHD are from brain damage or head trauma before, after or during birth) that food allergies cause ADD. This has not been proven scientifically although evidence is mounting that some children can benefit. Research has also shown that in people with ADHD, the brain areas that control attention used less glucose, indicating that they were less active.

It appears from this research that a lower level of activity in some parts of the brain may cause inattention. One of the most popular diets for treating people with ADHD is the Feingold diet. In Dr. Feingold's diet, artificial food dye and flavors, petroleum-based preservative, and salicylate-containing foods are eliminated. In conclusion, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a disorder that effects about 8 percent of school children today, mostly males. There is no known cause or cure for ADHD, but many different medications to decrease the negative effects of the disorder.

The authors surveys proved to be somewhat inconclusive. There needed to be more surveys given to people with ADHD and more related questions to the disorder. Questions on substance abuse and the characteristics of the disorder proved to be effective, while questions on grades and relationship (s) with parents (s) proved to be an ineffective comparison with other research. More person questions about the persons life with ADHD would have been more conclusive than the general questions asked.

The recommendation the author gives for future researchers is to actually talk with and discuss ADHD with individuals who have the disorder. There are many theories and explanations about the disorder, but it would be beneficial to the researcher to actually discuss one on one with an individual who has the disorder. To hear and even experience what someone with ADHD goes through on a typical day and how the medication effects the individual who takes it.