Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

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Many people have challenges with attention span and they start to struggle with the activities necessary to function in society. 

One of these challenges is when a person has voluntary nystagmus adhd, the disorder that causes problems like distractibility, restlessness, talking out of turn and difficulty staying still. It is estimated that 4% of the population has ADHD.

Children are diagnosed before they go into school and as early as age three or four. Adults can have it but it’s typically not discussed until a person’s 20s or 30s when things start to get dire for them at work or home because their disorder was never diagnosed during their childhood years.

1. 6% of the US population has juvenile ADD and that is approximately 3.2 million people. 

This diagnosis is made by a doctor after observing a child for three months. The symptoms include being fidgety, being restless and having trouble focusing on tasks. They also may have problems with impulsivity, forgetfulness and hyperactivity .

ADHD causes many problems for the family – unstructured time, lack of sleep and their child not getting along with other children at school. It does not help that the child is more likely to be diagnosed as retarded or have other learning disabilities because they are often very disruptive in class.

2. In an adult population of 4%  with ADHD, it is estimated that 90% of these people are undiagnosed, untreated and have not received any kind of treatment whatsoever.

Since they have been struggling all their lives to adapt to school and work environments they have a tendency to turn inward and give up trying. They may turn to drugs or alcohol in order to help them cope with the damaging effects of this condition .

They can also become overachievers who are always successful at everything they do. They may even be able to hide their symptoms better because as children they were not disruptive but had a lot of pent-up energy that caused them to act out in destructive ways. 

3. Parents of a child that has been diagnosed with ADHD have a few options.  They could go on medication to help their child focus more and adjust their behavior but it may not work very well.  Having a parent who is on medication for their ADHD can be very difficult for the children to deal with.

4. According to Dr C Russell Barkley (1994), an adult psychiatrist, people that have untreated ADHD as adults tend to be socially maladjusted and filled with self-doubt about them being unlovable or untrustworthy . They may start feeling that life is not worth living and become suicidal .

5. There are many causes of ADHD but the exact cause has not been found yet . Most researchers believe that it is genetic in origin but the exact cause could possibly be a defect in brain chemistry or brain chemistry’s interaction with the nervous system.

6. ADHD is treatable but there has been no widely accepted treatment for many decades now. It seems as though there is not one answer to curing this disability, and different treatment plans work for some and not others.  It’s just difficult to know what will make someone feel better or help them function better. 

There are new sets of tests that can be done by an adult to see if they have ADHD and whether or not they are likely to respond well to medication . 

The tests are :

1. An interview with a psychiatrist who asks the patient to talk about themselves and what their symptoms are like.

2. A dexamphetamine (dex) challenge to measure how well they respond to the medication used for ADHD. 

3. Psychological testing done by a psychologist or psychiatrist to measure executive function, learning disorders, memory problems, etc..

7. One of the best treatments that work for most people is an intensive management program where they get regular feedback from professionals in order to help them learn ways to cope with their condition . 

Treatments may include:

1. Medicinal treatment with antidepressants like Strattera or medications used to treat ADHD like Ritalin or Adderall.

2. Behaviour Modification plan – social skills training, behavioral therapy, etc..

3. Individual psychotherapy to help the adult come to terms with their condition.

4. Group therapy also helps people learn how to interact properly with others and how to cope better with their ADHD symptoms .  This is a good place for them to meet others that have the same disorder as them and share coping strategies with one another .

5. Family therapy where everyone in the family learns ways of coping with each other and receiving support along with giving it in return . 

6. Exercise is another form of treatment that can be very helpful, especially if they are a person who is easily distracted or impulsive because it helps them to focus better .

7. Other options such as spiritual support or energy healing may also be helpful for some people with ADHD who feel hopeless and don’t know what else to do to feel better about themselves. 

8. It is important for family members to get involved in therapy as well because it is often the most challenging part of the person’s life that breaks down first.

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