ADHD ADD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD ADD is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood Symptoms generally include trouble concentrating staying at one place difficulty staying focused difficulty controlling behavior hyperactivity impulsivity All people experience this behavior in them time to time But for some this behavior is uncontrollable and causing problems in their day to day lives This usually appears in childhood but can also be diagnosed in adults These symptoms can often overlap or even mimic other physical and psychological disorders The essential features of a Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADD ADHD is a persistent pattern of inattention and or hyperactivity impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development exhibited by deficits in performance at school home and in social relationships Actually there is no single test that can be used to diagnose Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children and adults ADHD is diagnosed after a person has shown some or all of symptoms of ADHD on a regular basis for more than six months Deciding if a child has ADHD is a several step process The American Psychiatric Association s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Fifth edition DSM 5 is used by mental health professionals to help diagnose ADHD This helps ensure that people are appropriately diagnosed and treated for ADHD There were some changes in DSM 5 for the diagnosis of ADHD symptoms can now occur by age 12 rather than by age 6 several symptoms must be present in more than one setting rather than in one setting and for adults and adolescents age 17 or older only 5 symptoms are needed instead of the 6 needed for younger children In DSM 5 criteria Inattention and or Hyperactivity and Impulsivity are included and child is diagnosed if six or more symptoms of intention and six or more symptoms hyperactivity and impulsivity are present in children up to age 16 or five or more for adolescents 17 and older and adults symptoms have been present for at least 6 months and they are inappropriate for the person s developmental level In addition symptoms are to be present in two or more setting Based on the types of symptoms three kinds presentations of ADHD can occur Combined presentation if enough symptoms of both criteria were present for the past 6 months Predominantly inattentive presentation if enough symptoms of inattention were present for the past six months Predominantly hyperactive impulsive presentation if enough symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity were present for the past six months Scientists are not sure what causes ADHD although many studies suggest that genes play a large role It results from a combination of factors like environmental factors cigarette smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy exposure to high levels of lead brain injuries and food additives Diagnosing child with ADHD is difficult as most children get distracted act impulsively and struggle to concentrate at one time or another ADHD symptoms usually appear early in life and symptoms vary from person to person it is hard to diagnose Health professional needs to gather information about the child and his or her behavior and environment do medical exams to rule out other medical causes of symptoms If all the gathered information of child meets the criteria for ADHD they will be diagnosed with this disorder Some children with ADHD also have other illnesses or conditions like a learning disability oppositional defiant disorder kids who are overly stubborn or rebellious conduct disorder anxiety and depression bipolar disorder Tourette syndrome ADHD diagnosis is made whether the symptoms are excessive compared with what would be expected longer term rather than in response to a recent change and pervasive rather than limited to one environment ADHD diagnosis in adults involves examining the past as well as their current difficulties Standard treatments for ADHD in children include medications education training and counselling These treatments can relieve many of the symptoms of ADHD but they don t cure it Psychotherapy interventions for both the child and the parents or the adult with ADHD is so important in treating ADHD The most common type of medication used for treating ADHD is called stimulant It actually has a calming effect on children with ADHD Other medication includes non stimulants These medications reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and improve their ability to focus work and learn The dosage and form of medication are to be closely monitored There are possible side effects with these stimulants which are decreased appetite sleep problems anxiety and irritability Most side effects are minor and disappear over time or if the dosage is lowered There are also some less common side effects like the child develops tics and may have a personality change such as appearing flat or without emotion Rare side effects include cardiovascular or psychiatric problems Different types of psychotherapy are used for ADHD Behavioral therapy aims to help a child change his or her behavior It involves practical assistance such as help organizing tasks or completing school work or working through emotionally difficult events Children with ADHD need guidance and understanding from their parents and teachers to reach their full potential and to succeed in school ADHD became so controversial in many terms one regarding its diagnosis as it has no physical test no single cause no standardized method of assessment other problems can cause behavior similar to ADHD it can exist with other conditions and this can complicate the assessment process In the past ADHD was thought to be caused by drug or alcohol abuse by mother during pregnancy psychological trauma at an early age minor head injuries or brain damage and poor parenting None of them proved to cause ADHD Some experts feel that because the criteria for ADHD are wider it may be misdiagnosed Some are against the use of stimulant drugs and claim that parents are drugging their children for an easy and calm life And that they may even cause brain damage and seizures but doctors prescribe the drugs in right dosages to cause less side effects and are given regular reviews of the medication There are claims that greedy parents are for diagnosis of ADHD of their children so that they can get extra money as the disability living allowance Counselling and