The Disorder Named AD/HD

People are always asking my opinion on the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.  A great site for information is www.help4adhd.com.  The following article is included on that website.  For additional information and support, I encourage families who have loved ones with ADHD to seek information from www.chadd.org.  Better yet, join CHADD as a member which includes some great benefits.  I hope the article below is helpful for for everyone.


The Disorder Named AD/HD

Occasionally, we may all have difficulty sitting still, paying attention or controlling impulsive behavior. For some people, the problems are so pervasive and persistent that they interfere with their lives, including home, academic, social and work settings. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is a common neurobiological condition affecting 5-8 percent of school age children 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 with symptoms
persisting into adulthood in as many as 60 percent of cases (i.e. approximately 4% of adults). 8,9
 It is characterized by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Although individuals with this disorder can be very successful in life, without identification and proper treatment, AD/HD may have serious consequences, including school failure, family stress and disruption, depression, problems with relationships, substance abuse, delinquency, risk for accidental injuries and job failure. Early identification and treatment are extremely important. Medical science first documented children exhibiting inattentiveness, impulsivity and hyperactivity in 1902. Since that time, the disorder has been given numerous names, including minimal brain dysfunction, hyperkinetic reaction of childhood and attention-deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity. With the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fourth edition (DSM-IV) classification system, the disorder has been renamed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or AD/HD.
The current name reflects the importance of the inattention characteristics of the disorder as well as the other characteristics of the disorder, such as hyperactivity and impulsivity.


The Symptoms


Typically, AD/HD symptoms arise in early childhood, unless associated with some type of brain injury later in life. Some symptoms persist into adulthood and may pose life-long challenges. Although the official diagnostic criteria state that the onset of symptoms must occur before age seven, leading researchers in the field of AD/HD argue that criterion should be broadened to include onset anytime during childhood.  The symptom related criteria for the three primary subtypes are adapted from DSM-IV and summarized as follows:


AD/HD predominantly inattentive type: (AD/HD-I)
• Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes.
• Has difficulty sustaining attention.
• Does not appear to listen.
• Struggles to follow through on instructions.
• Has difficulty with organization.
• Avoids or dislikes tasks requiring sustained mental effort.
• Loses things.
• Is easily distracted.
• Is forgetful in daily activities.


AD/HD predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type: 
(AD/HD-HI)
• Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in chair.
• Has difficulty remaining seated.
• Runs about or climbs excessively.
• Difficulty engaging in activities quietly.
• Acts as if driven by a motor.
• Talks excessively.
• Blurts out answers before questions have been completed.
• Difficulty waiting or taking turns.
• Interrupts or intrudes upon others.


AD/HD combined type: (AD/HD-C)
• Individual meets both sets of inattention and hyperactive/impulsive criteria.




For the complete article go to:  http://www.help4adhd.org/en/about/what/WWK1