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ADHD or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurological disorder and affects up to 5% of children although more boys than girls are diagnosed with ADHD. In fact between two and five times as many boys as girls are found to have ADHD. The condition usually means the child is prone to impulsive acts which sometimes, although not always, are associated with inattention and hyperactive behavior.
It can be diagnosed in young children and continue through to adulthood although as the patient grows older, they often learn to control their behavior.
Medications vary and include drugs, lifestyle changes, counseling and behavior modifications. Every case is unique and, as a parent, you would of course be advised by your medical professional.
An ADHD diagnosis may well discover other related forms of disorder such as bipolar, conduct disorder and anxiety disorder. Studies show too that many children diagnosed with ADHD actually grow out of their behavior and some who do were never treated for the condition.
There is no sure cause of ADHD although it is believed that most diagnosed cases have a genetic link and that the condition is inherited. But ADHD is not as simple as other genetic diseases and should not be considered in the same way.
One specific element of an ADHD sufferer is diet and studies show that food additives are often a significant factor in a sufferer’s behavior. Sugar too has been regarded as a bad influence although more recent studies do not make a compelling case for these aspects of the diet for a child with ADHD.
One of the best supported aspects of treatment is the relationship between the ADHD child and their carer. This relationship is crucial in assisting the child and helping them grow away from their previous difficult conduct.
ADHD studies are relatively new and conflicting results have been tabled. Just how much of the brain’s activity and in which parts of the brain they occur are debated as being the cause or at least a contributing factor to ADHD. In all cases, your family doctor is the best starting point if your child shows any type of hyper activity. Your GP can then recommend tests which will help you understand your child’s condition and what treatment if any is required.
We need to understand that some of the symptoms of ADHD occur in everyone at certain stages of our life. It’s just that when these symptoms occur regularly and can be a disruption to a young person’s life that we need to consider the best professional assistance.
Summary
The treatments on offer vary and can include your child actually growing out of their condition. But your fears that your son or daughter is missing out on their education or not adjusting well socially can be removed with the help of professional medical advice. And from all the studies one shining example of help centers on the benefits of the ADHD sufferer having a caring and skilled person to guide and treat them. It’s called old-fashioned medication.
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Any parent wants the best treatment for their child although with ADHD there does seem to be some disagreement amongst the experts. Some believe that ADHD is not a medical condition at all but rather a set of behavioral disorders. They argue that you can’t get sick with ADHD.
So what are the treatments available for this ADD / ADHD? And what are the results of using these treatments?
Many medical experts prescribe drugs for children diagnosed with ADHD. The drugs come under the banner of psychostimulants. There are many recorded cases where parents swear by the success of these drugs. They state that their child’s disorder was reduced greatly or removed altogether thanks to the taking of such drugs.
So what causes a child to fidget abnormally, to not pay attention to its parents or teachers, to be easily distracted or to run around at odd times and probably excessively? If only we knew.
Expert opinion varies with some suggesting a child has not bonded well with its parents. Other expert studies suggest that ADHD runs in the family, that it is inherited. Because it is predominantly a male disorder, some experts suggest an absent father or failure for a child to relate well emotionally to the father may be a contributing factor.
The fact is that opinions vary as to the cause and even to the treatment. To make matters even more difficult, the diagnosis which is usually by a pediatrician or child psychologist is, when all is said and done, a subjective one. Input from the parents and teachers is vital.
It is important for parents to know that some children have been diagnosed with ADHD when in fact there was another factor or factors at play which has caused their behavior.
Once a child is diagnosed, the treatment given comes under a management plan. This aims to deal with the academic, social and emotional life of the child. Dexedrine is the common name of a drug often prescribed for a child with ADHD. There are other drugs but studies show that the vast majority of ADHD sufferers make major improvements when using the right medication.
With most drugs, your child may suffer side effects such as a reduced appetitive and a difficulty in getting to sleep.
There are alternatives to drugs but studies show that generally they are not effective. The key is for the parent to study as much information as they can about the condition and ask questions of their doctor and specialist. There are several cost-free treatments every parent can provide such as giving praise for success with the child’s’ behavior and setting fair but strict rules for the way the child behaves.
For the health of the long-suffering parent, being patient can be of enormous help and keeping calm in any crisis is also a great way to help you and your child.
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