While attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is commonly associated with children for adults it is called adult attention-deficit disorder (AADD). Around 30 to 70 percent of children found positive of ADHD may retain the condition on reaching adulthood.
Affecting four to 12 percent of school-age children, ADHD-afflicted kids are severely hampered from maintaining healthy relations at home, school and with peers. Thus children with ADHD are sometimes perceived wrongly as being "difficult" or displaying undesirable behavioral problems.
The symptoms ADHD fall into two broad categories:
Inattention:
- This is shown from the person's failure and difficulty to pay close attention to details/instructions or making careless mistakes in schoolwork or other activities.
- He/she looks as if he/she is not listening when spoken to and often doesn't finish tasks or avoids them altogether if it requires exerting mental effort and organization like school projects.
- He/she frequently loses items required to facilitate tasks or activities, such as school supplies, is easily distracted and forgetful.
Hyper/impulsive behaviour:
- Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirming in seat, causing them to leave to run and climb at inappropriate times.
- He/she has difficulty keeping quiet and feels restless, causing them to speak often even before someone else finishes speaking.
- Being restless he or she interrupts others and doesn't wait for turns.
Children with ADHD who remain untreated carry the ailment into adulthood where they face their biggest problems in self-control, motivation and retaining a working memory. Again if left untreated other symptoms like depression and anxiety may surface. If a patient displays these conditions initial co-morbid conditions are usually treated first.
Those with ADHD also display other underlying related disorders. These consist of the Tourette Syndrome, in which afflicted persons display nervous tics and repetitive mannerisms like eye blinks and grimacing.
They may also incur oppositional defiant disorder which afflicts as many as one-third to one-half of all children with ADHD. In this condition the children are often defiant, stubborn, non-compliant and temperamental. On the other hand those suffering from conduct disorder--which accounts for 20 to 40 percent of ADHD children--frequently lie or steal, fight with or bully others. Such aggressive behaviour exposes them to trouble in their locality or with the police.
Possible causes of ADHD
The possible causes for ADHD vary from biological to nutritional factors. Previous research pointed to the possibility that the brain's frontal lobes, specifically the latter's connections to basal ganglia and central portion of the cerebellum or vermis may be linked.
The cerebellum considered to play a vital role in tasks such as short-term memory, attention, impulse control, emotion, higher cognition is shown to be smaller in those afflicted with ADHD.
Also cited are the links between ADHD and the presence of
high dopamine beta hydroxylase genes along with reduced blood circulation, the lack of Omega-3 fatty acids in ADHD children and even smoking during pregnancy, tobacco use and lead poisoning.
Another theory suggests that ADHD is caused by brief pauses in breathing (apnea) during infancy.
ADHD Treatments:
Treatment consists of either medication alone or a combination of behavioural therapy, educational interventions and medication.
Medicines available upon prescription for ADHD treatment include, Methylphenidate, Amphetamines, Methamphetamine, Bupropion, Atomoxetine while secondline medications include Benzphetamine, Provigil/Alertec/modafinil, Cylert/Pemoline and Clonidine.
Controversy also arose due to fears of substance abuse but research showed that those suffering from ADHD that receive treatment with stimulants are less likely inclined to do so.
There are alternative treatments such as diet modification and even technology aids like video game-type technology to improve attention span. Though there is no evidence to support the latter and may even prove dangerous owing to reports of seizures because of prolonged exposure to bright lights and fast moving images.
