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Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Information

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a broad term for all types of the "documented" clinical diagnoses called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  ADD involves about 4 percent to 6 percent of the U.S. population, as described by the Attention Deficit Disorder Association. According to figures, about 2 million children in the United States or some 3 percent to 5 percent of children suffer from ADHD. In short, if we see a classroom of about 28 children, the chances are that at least one child will be suffering from ADHD and this disorder doesn’t stop there though.

Adults also are a part of the stack who suffer from this disorder. In fact, 50 percent to 66 percent of children with ADHD carry on with ADHD problems into their adult lives of whose consequences they bear in their relationships, their jobs etc.

The main purpose of this ADD guide is to outline useful information for their readers in a most comprehensive form, discuss facts, and give an overview of the issues encompassing this disorder, as there are so many people around us who are alive, but are lost inside themselves. This content revolves around the information about ADD / ADHD along with a variety of answers available regarding treatment and coping, which are based upon the most recent studies, research, reports, articles, findings, products and services available, so that you can learn more about ADD/ ADHD.

There is a word that goes out far and wide, which says that no one can accurately diagnose ADD / ADHD either in children or adults. This is not true. The truth is that even though there are not yet definitive medical tests for diagnosing ADHD, but there are discrete methods, which help us gather the information and specific diagnostic criteria for evaluating both children and adults, as mentioned in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), which was published in 1995 by the American Psychiatric Association. The treatment and coping options that are available today for ADD / ADHD can actually be a blend of several factors, which will be discussed here.

Of Note is that the contents included in this guide are not obtained from a medical practitioner and that all health care planning should be made under the guidance of your own medical and health care practitioners. The content only presents an overview of ADD / ADHD research for educational purposes and does not replace medical advice from a professional physician.

Understanding ADD in Laymen’s Terms

What Is ADD / ADHD?

ADD / ADHD is a biologically based condition causing a persistent pattern of difficulties resulting in one or more of the following behaviors:  1.  Inattention (difficulty attending or focusing on a specific task). 2. Hyperactivity (difficulty inhibiting a behavior, being in a state of constant motion). 3. Impulsivity (difficulty controlling impulses, don’t think before they act). The only difference between ADD and ADHD is the element of hyperactivity.

How Is ADD Caused?

It is believed by researchers that ADD is probably caused by genetically based biological factors that influence the chemical activity in areas of brain. Some tests were conducted in which people with ADD; there was less uptake of glucose in brain areas that were dealing with controlling attention and inhibiting impulses. So this was concluded through this test that it might be the lower levels of activity in the specific brain areas that might contribute to some ADD symptoms.

On the basis of research it is also known that ADD does appear across family lines, thus indicating that it’s hereditary, which suggests a possible genetic predisposition within members of the same family. Research shows that when a person is diagnosed with ADD, the odds are up to 25 percent to 35 percent that another family member might also suffer from ADD. Compared to the rest of the general public, there is a less than 6 percent chance of someone else having the disorder.

Evolution Of ADD

The cases of hyperactivity, lack of attention and impulsivity had been reported since the early 1900s. The term ADD has evolved out of different health states with various terminologies; Hyperkinetic Reaction of Childhood, Minimal Brain Dysfunction, and Attention-Deficit Disorder With or Without Hyperactivity. According to the official publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) classification system, the disorder was renamed to stress the importance of the inattention characteristics, as well as the hyperactivity and impulsivity traits to Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Old School Of Thought

An old school of thought had been that children outgrew ADHD during adolescent years, because hyperactivity generally seemed to decrease throughout teenage years. But the fact that a lot of the symptoms carry on into adult years is now accepted and has eliminated that former belief. As a matter of fact, some research has reported that approximately 2 percent to 4 percent of adults suffer from some ADHD symptoms.

Aftermath

Among children and adults, many of those suffering from this disorder are able to control their ADHD and lead successful lives. Whereas, many people who are afflicted with this disorder are reported to have strained relationships, depression at work, social problems, school and dependency problems, and other negative issues. The bottom line is that an early recognition of the disorder and prompt treatment can really help the child go through special education and rehabilitation.

Related Disorders

Anxiety

• Anxiety and Fear
• Anxiety Symptoms
• Anxiety and Depression
• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Social Phobia

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• ADD/ADHD Information
• Children with ADD/ADHD
• Adults with ADD/ADHD
• ADD/ADHD Treatment
• ADD/ADHD Coping Tips

Insomnia

• Stimulus Control
• Relaxation
• Cognitive Therapy
• Sleep Hygiene

Tourette’s Syndrome Disorder

Neurasthenia

Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency and Depression

Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Paranoia

Personality Types

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Pick’s Disease

Adjustment Disorder

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

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