| Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder is a | | | | 1. Cannot stay focused on a task, are less |
| developmental & behavioral disorder, usually | | | | attentive. |
| suffered by children (mostly boys), sometimes | | | | 2. Keep changing activities, cannot finish tasks. |
| adults as well. It can be characterized by poor | | | | 3. Become forgetful, lose track of things, cannot |
| concentration, distractibility, hyperactivity and | | | | follow instructions. |
| impulsiveness which are unusual for a child's age. | | | | 4. Are easily distracted by things in the |
| Know some more about ADHD (ADD) - | | | | environment, become restless. |
| Two terms are used in this context - ADD | | | | 5. Cannot organize activities on their own, become |
| (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention | | | | careless. |
| Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder). Earlier, the | | | | 6. Make restless movements of hands / feet |
| term ADD was used, then renamed ADHD, | | | | cannot be seated quietly or engage in activities |
| though ADD is still used to refer to a type of | | | | patiently, interrupt others. |
| ADHD with no Hyperactivity. | | | | Facts And Figures |
| Differences in the parts of the brain controlling | | | | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) |
| attention and activity cause lack of concentration, | | | | estimate that about 4.4 million people of age 4-17 |
| and slowness in doing jobs. ADHD patients day | | | | have ADHD as of 2003, 2.5 million people of the |
| dream, act impulsively, get hyperactive and | | | | same age group undergoing treatment currently. |
| restless and are easily distracted by sounds and | | | | Reportedly, 7.8% of school aged children suffered |
| sights. | | | | in 2003. |
| What Causes ADHD? | | | | Treatment - |
| Chemicals called 'Neurotransmitters' help send | | | | ADHD doesn't have exact cure. Different patients |
| messages between different nerves cells in a | | | | need to be treated differently depending on |
| human brain to co-ordinate different activities. | | | | whether the trouble is more on the attention side |
| Example, Dopamine, a neurotransmitter stimulates | | | | or activity side. Doctors usually treat with |
| attention centers in the brain. Lower amounts of | | | | medication, counseling with the family & the |
| this chemical causes an imbalance, causing | | | | patient, changes at schools to adopt particular |
| improper coordination of different brain activities. | | | | learning styles. |
| Doctors, not sure of the exact cause, believe it | | | | What can parents do? |
| to be genetic. Based on the tips that ADHD is | | | | Handling kids with ADHD can be quite challenging |
| more common in boys & seen mostly in kids | | | | but making a few changes at home can help. |
| born premature, research continues. | | | | Setting a simple schedule and home rules for the |
| Symptoms | | | | child, helping him understand and follow them, |
| Usually seen in childhood, ADHD cannot | | | | rewarding good behavior and constant supervision, |
| sometimes be diagnosed till teenage or even | | | | focusing on efforts and not grades and talking to |
| adulthood. ADHD patients - | | | | his teachers all help in the longer run. |