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ADD ADHD Teen Help
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (sometimes referred to as
ADD for those without hyperactivity) is thought to be a neurological
disorder, always present from childhood, which manifests itself with
symptoms such as hyperactivity, forgetfulness, poor impulse control,
and distractibility. In neurological pathology, ADHD is currently
considered to be an unrelenting and chronic syndrome for which no
medical cure is available. ADHD is believed to affect between 3-5%
of the United States population, including both children and adults.
Controversy surrounds the designation of ADHD as a true medical disorder,
such as whether or not the diagnosis denotes a disability in its traditional
sense, an impairment, or simply describes the neurological property of an
individual. According to a majority of medical research in the United
States, as well as other countries, ADHD is today generally regarded
to be a non-curable neurological disorder for which, however, a wide
range of effective treatments are available. A wide body of evidence
has shown that stimulant medication is the most effective way to treat
the disorder. Methods of treatment usually involve some combination of
medication, psychotherapy, and other techniques. Some patients are able
to control their symptoms over time, without the use of medication. Other
individuals who meet the diagnostic criteria of ADHD do not consider
themselves to be handicapped by the disorder and therefore may remain
undiagnosed or, after a positive diagnosis, untreated.
ADHD is most commonly diagnosed in children and, over the past decade,
has been increasingly diagnosed in adults. It is believed that around
60% of children diagnosed with ADHD retain the disorder as adults.
Inattention:
1. Failure to pay close attention to details or making careless mistakes when doing schoolwork or other activities
2. Trouble keeping attention focused during play or tasks
3. Appearing not to listen when spoken to
4. Failure to follow instructions or finish tasks
5. Avoiding tasks that require a high amount of mental effort and organization, such as school projects
6. Frequently losing items required to facilitate tasks or activities, such as school supplies
7. Excessive distractibility
8. Forgetfulness
9. Procrastination, inability to begin an activity
10. Difficulties with household activities (cleaning, paying bills, etc.)
11. Difficulty falling asleep, may be due to too many thoughts at night
12. Frequent emotional outbursts
13. Easily frustrated
14. Easily distracted
Hyperactivity-impulsive behavior
1. Fidgeting with hands or feet or squirming in seat
2. Leaving seat often, even when inappropriate
3. Running or climbing at inappropriate times
4. Difficulty in quiet play
5. Frequently feeling restless
6. Excessive speech
7. Answering a question before the speaker has finished
8. Failure to await one's turn
9. Interrupting the activities of others at inappropriate times
10. Impulsive spending, leading to financial difficulties
11. Violent
A positive diagnosis is usually only made if the person has experienced
six of the above symptoms for at least three months. Symptoms must appear
consistently in varied environments (e.g., not only at home or only at school)
and interfere with function. One of the difficulties in diagnosis is the
incidence of co-morbid conditions, especially the presence of bipolar
disorder which is being reported at earlier ages than previously described.
Children who grow up with ADHD often continue to have symptoms as they grow
into adulthood. Adults face some of their greatest challenges in the areas
of self-control and self-motivation, as well as executive functioning
(also known as working memory). If the patient is not treated appropriately,
co-morbid conditions, such as depression, anxiety and self-medicating
substance abuse may present as well. If a patient presents with such
conditions as well, the co-morbid condition may be treated first, or simultaneously.
ADHD affects the rest of one's life as well. Other symptoms include:
1. A sense of impending doom
2. Negativity
3. Frequent feeling of demoralization or that things won't work out
4. Trouble maintaining close friendships
5. Lack of talking in a relationship
6. Avoidance of group activities
7. Frequent search for high stimulation (bungee jumping, gambling etc.)
8. Tendency to worry needlessly and endlessly
9. An internal sense of anxiety or nervousness
10. Switches around numbers, letters or words
11. Turn words around in conversations
12. The harder one tries, the worse it gets
13. Startles easily
14. Sensitive to touch, clothes, noise and light
15. Quick responses to slights that are real or imagined
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