As an issue our group “ Bazingaa!” chose to work on ADHD patients. ADHD is a biological condition that makes it hard for many children to sit still and concentrate. There are various areas of the brain that control a child’s ability to concentrate. These areas may be less active and develop more slowly in kids with ADHD.
There are actually three types of ADHD, and one of them doesn’t include symptoms of impulsive and hyperactive behavior.
- ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: Kids who have this type of ADHD have symptoms of hyperactivity and feel the need to move constantly. They also struggle with impulse control.
- ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: Kids who have this type of ADHD have difficulty paying attention. They’re easily distracted but don’t have issues with impulsivity or hyperactivity. This is sometimes referred to as attention-deficit disorder (or ADD).
- ADHD, Combined Presentation: This is the most common type of ADHD. Kids who have it show all of the symptoms described above.
ADHD is one of the most common childhood conditions involving the brain. There’s a range of estimates of how many kids have it, though: from 5 percent, according to the DSM-5, to 11 percent, according to the CDC’s survey of parents asked in 2011 if their child (ages 4–17) had even been diagnosed with ADHD. Surveys show that boys are diagnosed with ADHD far more times than girls.
People haven’t really found out the actual cause for ADHD, but a few factors that cause ADHD have been discovered. The following are the causes that have been discovered uptill now.
- Genes and heredity: Studies show that ADHD runs in families — meaning it may be genetic. If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, there is a significant chance that you have it too, even if you’ve never been diagnosed. As many as 35 percent of children with ADHD have a parent or sibling who also has the disorder.
- Differences in the brain: Certain areas of the brain may develop at a slower pace or be less active in kids with ADHD. Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that kids with ADHD also may have lower levels of a brain chemical called dopamine that helps to regulate mood, movement and attention.
- Environmental factors: Prenatal exposure to alcohol and cigarette smoke could increase the chances of getting ADHD, says the National Institute of Mental Health. So does exposure to high levels of lead during infancy and early childhood. There’s no evidence that sugar or food additives cause ADHD.
- Brain injury: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a lot less common than ADHD. But ADHD-like symptoms are sometimes present in the relatively small number of kids who have TBI. Recent studies show high rates of attention problems in acquired brain injuries (such as concussion and brain tumors).
There are few symptoms that can help know if the person is suffering from ADHD or not. The following are the symptoms.
Signs of Inattention
- Forgets things, seems “daydreamy” or confused and appears to not be listening
- Finds it hard to concentrate and jumps quickly from one activity to another
- Gets bored with an activity unless it’s very enjoyable
- Struggles to get organized and finish tasks
- Has difficulty learning new things and following directions
- Is smart but doesn’t understand or “get” things you expect him to or that his peers grasp easily
Signs of Impulsivity
- Is impatient and has trouble waiting for a turn
- Blurts out inappropriate things and interrupts people
- Overreacts to feelings and emotional situations
- Doesn’t understand the consequences of his actions
Signs of Hyperactivity
- Talks almost constantly
- Moves nonstop even when sitting down
- Moves from place to place quickly and frequently
- Fidgets and has to pick up everything and play with it
- Has trouble sitting still for meals and other quiet activities
ADHD affects a persons skills and behaviour, the following are the skills which are affected by ADHD in a person suffering from it.
- Social skills: Kids with ADHD often have a tough time making and keeping friends. Being hyperactive or impulsive can make it hard for your child to follow social rules, control emotions and say the appropriate thing. Other kids may find it hard to interact with your child if he constantly interrupts or doesn’t take turns
- Self-control: Many kids with ADHD need to move around a lot, and that isn’t limited to moving from place to place. The American Academy of Neurology reports that even when they’re doing specific activities like tying their shoes, writing, playing a musical instrument or even driving a car, people with ADHD often use extra body movements. This can make those tasks a lot harder to manage.
- Organization, planning and learning: ADHD affects the part of the brain that deals with excutive functioning. This is the ability to plan, organize and think ahead. Losing track of calculators, notebooks and assignment sheets can make it hard to complete assignments and homework. Losing track of his own thought process can make it even harder. Your child may struggle with breaking down a school assignment or a household job into steps and getting started.
Other skills that may be affected include:
- Understanding directions
- Thinking things through
- Paying attention to new information
- Applying knowledge from one area to a different one
- Staying focused without getting bored
- Being aware of one’s own thought processes (the opposite of daydreaming)
Below are few sites that will help know more about ADHD.
Signing off
Team Bazingaa!
