The most commonly diagnosed childhood disorder is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Between 3 and 5 percent of school-aged children have ADHD.
Boys are three times more likely to have ADHD than girls are.
About 60% of these children will continue to have this disorder as adults.
Children with ADHD display symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity and/or inattention.
ADHD is a chronic neurobiological disorder.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV-TR), there are three subtypes of ADHD.
They are the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type, the predominantly inattentive type and the combined type.
Some signs of a person with predominantly hyperactive-impulsive ADHD include fidgeting with his hands or feet, squirming in his seat, talking excessively, interrupting conversations, blurting out inappropriate comments, running around excessively, or having problems taking turns.
Some signs of a person with predominantly inattentive ADHD include having difficulty sustaining his attention in tasks, having problems organizing tasks, being easily distracted, or being forgetful.
A person with combined type ADHD displays both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms.
Parents can expect to see these symptoms early in their child's life.
They will appear over the course of many months.
It is important that a well-qualified professional thoroughly examine the child because these symptoms may also occur to a lesser extent in children who don't have ADHD.
Studies show that ADHD is genetically transmitted in most cases.
At least 1 out of every 3 fathers who had ADHD, when they were kids, has children with ADHD.
Studies of identical twins indicate that if one twin has this disorder the other is also likely to have it.
About 1 in 5 ADHD cases occur because of brain injury after birth.
At this point the cause of this disorder is speculative, but the most widely held view is that ADHD occurs because there is an imbalance of the neurotransmitters of the brain.
According to the majority of medical research, there is no cure for ADHD.
However, there are some effective methods of treatment.
They usually involve some combination of nutritional treatments, behavioral treatments and/or medication.
Many parents have used nutritional treatments instead of seeking medical help.
They include avoiding sugar, artificial sweeteners and food dyes.
However, there are no nutritional treatments that have consistently helped the majority of children with ADHD.
The various forms of behavioral treatments include psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, social skills training and parent skills training.
The most effective medications used to treat ADHD are stimulants.
The four most common types of stimulants are amphetamines (Adderall), methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Dextrostat) and pemoline (Cylert).
These stimulants have been found to reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and help children focus.
These drugs are considered safe if used under medical supervision.
However, some parents think that their children may eventually become addicted to the stimulants.
But studies by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School indicate that children who remained on their medication through their teen years were less likely to use drugs than ADHD children who were not taking any medications at all.
Families who object to using stimulants may use a non-stimulant such as Strattera.
Between 3 and 5 percent of school-aged children have ADHD.
Boys are three times more likely to have ADHD than girls are.
About 60% of these children will continue to have this disorder as adults.
Children with ADHD display symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity and/or inattention.
ADHD is a chronic neurobiological disorder.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV-TR), there are three subtypes of ADHD.
They are the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type, the predominantly inattentive type and the combined type.
Some signs of a person with predominantly hyperactive-impulsive ADHD include fidgeting with his hands or feet, squirming in his seat, talking excessively, interrupting conversations, blurting out inappropriate comments, running around excessively, or having problems taking turns.
Some signs of a person with predominantly inattentive ADHD include having difficulty sustaining his attention in tasks, having problems organizing tasks, being easily distracted, or being forgetful.
A person with combined type ADHD displays both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms.
Parents can expect to see these symptoms early in their child's life.
They will appear over the course of many months.
It is important that a well-qualified professional thoroughly examine the child because these symptoms may also occur to a lesser extent in children who don't have ADHD.
Studies show that ADHD is genetically transmitted in most cases.
At least 1 out of every 3 fathers who had ADHD, when they were kids, has children with ADHD.
Studies of identical twins indicate that if one twin has this disorder the other is also likely to have it.
About 1 in 5 ADHD cases occur because of brain injury after birth.
At this point the cause of this disorder is speculative, but the most widely held view is that ADHD occurs because there is an imbalance of the neurotransmitters of the brain.
According to the majority of medical research, there is no cure for ADHD.
However, there are some effective methods of treatment.
They usually involve some combination of nutritional treatments, behavioral treatments and/or medication.
Many parents have used nutritional treatments instead of seeking medical help.
They include avoiding sugar, artificial sweeteners and food dyes.
However, there are no nutritional treatments that have consistently helped the majority of children with ADHD.
The various forms of behavioral treatments include psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, social skills training and parent skills training.
The most effective medications used to treat ADHD are stimulants.
The four most common types of stimulants are amphetamines (Adderall), methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Dextrostat) and pemoline (Cylert).
These stimulants have been found to reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and help children focus.
These drugs are considered safe if used under medical supervision.
However, some parents think that their children may eventually become addicted to the stimulants.
But studies by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School indicate that children who remained on their medication through their teen years were less likely to use drugs than ADHD children who were not taking any medications at all.
Families who object to using stimulants may use a non-stimulant such as Strattera.
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