ADHD Facts
What You Should Know About ADHD
Availing yourself of ADHD facts can help you better understand the disorder, if it has affected your child or any child close to you.
• ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is called a developmental disorder, that affects the way your child would normally concentrate, make decisions and see the consequences of his actions, before he acts.
• ADHD is now the most commonly seen disorder of behavior in children of school ages. Somewhere between three and seven percent of schoolchildren are diagnosed with ADHD, boys at a rate of nine to one over girls.
• Until more recent years, ADHD facts went largely undiagnosed. Before 1994, the symptom of inattentiveness in ADHD wasn't even recognized as a part of ADHD. In the 1980's, ADHD was called ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), and professionals recognized only two subtypes of the disorder, one that included hyperactivity and one that didn't.
• Today there are three types of ADHD that are recognized: Inattentive, Hyperactive-Impulsive and a combination of the two.
• ADHD facts and symptoms include: Inattention, which involves your child's inability to follow direction, to focus on what is being said, or to follow through with tasks that you assign.
• ADHD symptoms also include excessive movement, when your child is unable to stay still for any period of time, and impulsivity, defined as a lack of self-control, such as when they speak or do things without thinking about the consequences.
• There are some ADHD facts that may explain how the disorder is caused. They include a very low birth weight, prenatal exposure to drugs, tobacco or alcohol, difficulty during pregnancy and genetic difficulties, which is generally regarded as the most common cause.
• There are two ways that ADHD is generally treated: The first is through the use of drugs prescribed by your physician. These drugs may include non-stimulant or stimulant drugs, or amphetamines.
• Your physician may prescribe drugs to be used for long or short terms, and these drugs must be monitored with your doctor. Watch for side-effects, which may include changes in appetite, loss of weight, nervous tics and insomnia.
• Some physicians and parents opt for an alternative treatment, based on the ADHD facts they have referenced. They prefer to use tutoring, behavior therapy, special education and talk therapy involving the whole family, to help your child and your family. There are also ADHD treatment centers that you may send your child to.
• There are ways that you as a parent can help your child with ADHD. Some are: maintaining a regular schedule for your child, keeping distractions at a minimum, recognizing positive behavior and rewarding it, setting small goals that your child can reach and using discipline calmly. You, as parents, are a big part of your child's success or failure through ADHD treatment.