| Millions of children throughout the United States suffer | | | | playing. They may seem not to be listening when you |
| from attention deficit disorder in one form or another. | | | | speak to them directly. |
| Symptoms of this problem include impulsive behavior, | | | | Children who suffer from this problem will often avoid |
| hyperactivity, and inability to pay attention for long | | | | any task which requires them to focus or think for long |
| periods of time. You may also hear this chronic | | | | stretches of time. They may lose important objects |
| disorder referred to as ADD or ADHD. It can continue | | | | like books, toys, and writing materials. They can be |
| on into adulthood, causing problems with daily life, poor | | | | disorganized, easily distracted, or have trouble |
| self esteem, trouble interaction, and bad performance | | | | remembering important facts and details. |
| in work or school. | | | | It's important to avoid misdiagnosis of ADD. Diagnosing |
| There are many different theories as to the causes of | | | | a child as having the disorder when he or she does |
| attention deficit disorder. However, none of them have | | | | not could cause them to be unnecessarily medicated. |
| been proven correct at this time. Some people believe | | | | This excess medication can create new problems of |
| that this disorder is caused during the embryo's | | | | its own. A misdiagnosis of ADD may also mask |
| development in the womb. Others believe that | | | | problems that a child is having with parents or |
| environmental factors such as socioeconomic status | | | | teachers. Remember that when a child exhibits the |
| and parental drug use may play a part. Many cases of | | | | warning signs of this disorder, it's important to get help |
| ADD appear to be caused be biological issues. The | | | | quickly. Statistically, children with ADD are more likely to |
| genes which control levels of neurotransmitters in the | | | | abuse drugs or alcohol, suffer injury, get into a car |
| brain have been shown to be different in children | | | | accident as a teen, and suffer from poor grades, |
| suffering from ADD than in other children. | | | | depression and anxiety. |
| The symptoms of attention deficit disorder are the | | | | There are many different approaches to treating |
| primary means used to identify it. Many doctors are | | | | children with attention deficit disorder. Some of them |
| reluctant to confirm that a child has ADD unless he or | | | | are quite controversial. Since attention deficit disorder is |
| she shows what are considered the core symptoms. | | | | a problem that mostly arises in children, the age of the |
| These will show up early in life and eventually become | | | | patient is important when considering whether to |
| an important part of behavior patterns. These | | | | prescribe medication or utilize experimental techniques. |
| symptoms are the ones which cause so many | | | | Many children's ADD is treated through the use of |
| problems, both at home and at school. | | | | psycho-stimulants or other prescribed medications. |
| If a child shows six or more of the symptoms of ADD | | | | These can relieve most of the symptoms suffered by |
| for a period of six months or more, a doctor may | | | | children with attention deficit disorder. However, they |
| come to the conclusion that he or she has the | | | | are not a cure for the problem. In addition, treatment of |
| disorder. Most of the common symptoms show up | | | | very young children with medications of this kind is still |
| around seven years of age. However, they can also | | | | controversial. Because of this, many parents choose to |
| manifest much earlier. Remember that these signs | | | | forego this step and instead choose counseling, special |
| must be consistent. It's normal for children to | | | | concessions at school, and family and community |
| periodically show signs of inattentiveness. Their | | | | support to attempt to treat their children's condition. |
| attention spans are naturally shorter than those of | | | | Patience and support are required when raising a child |
| adults. | | | | who has ADD. Many of these children can benefit |
| Children with ADD often have trouble paying close | | | | from therapy with a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other |
| attention to the details of school activities. This means | | | | counselor. Behavioral and social training can help them |
| that although the child is intelligent and understands the | | | | cope with their problem. Support groups composed of |
| work, careless mistakes may be common. Children | | | | other parents and children who suffer from ADD are |
| who suffer from ADD may also have trouble | | | | also common. Many parents who choose medication |
| completing simple tasks or paying attention while | | | | also use these methods in addition. |