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Attention Deficit
Attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder, or ADD and AD/HD, are used interchangeably and are really one
and the same. According to the Attention Deficit Disorder Association,
approximately 4-6% of the country's population, both children and
adults, is affected with this disorder. In years past, children who
appeared to be hyperactive, irritable, or who did not mind their elders
were considered to be the result of poor parenting, too much TV, too
much sugar, and neglect by teachers or caregivers. Research has shown
that this is just not so, and that these behaviors are very likely to
be caused by biological factors. Attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder appears to run in families, and if one family member has been
diagnosed, then chances are greater that other family members have it
too, in greater numbers than the rest of the general population.
According to the
Diagnostical and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-IV,
some of the most common signs and symptoms of existing attention
deficit are inability to stay focused on a task, short attention span,
poor attention to detail, failure to listen to when spoken to, failure
to follow directions, careless or reckless behavior, restlessness,
fidgeting, constantly moving arms and legs, not being able to sit
still, or excessive talking. These symptoms are not all present in
every case and vary from person to person, and from child to adult. A
diagnosis of attention deficit must be made by a medical doctor or
psychiatrist, who can prescribe the proper treatment regimen, including
medications and counseling.
The most common
medications used to treat attention deficit disorder are those called
stimulants, such as Ritalin, Adderall, or Dexedrine. This seems strange
because we think of stimulants as speeding you up instead of slowing
you down, but in children and in some adults, stimulants have the
paradoxical, or opposite effect. These medications have proven to be
very effective for attention deficit disorder and are routinely
prescribed in addition to behavior modification and individual therapy.
Adults diagnosed with attention deficit benefit from coaches who can
help them develop coping skills to improve organizational skills and
work more efficiently at home and on the job. There are several online
resources available to anyone wanting more information on attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder, diagnosis, and treatments in adults and
children. There is also quite a bit of controversy surrounding this
diagnosis and the medications used to treat it. Stimulants can have
side effects, and their use should be discussed with your health care
provider, to determine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
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A Healthy Dose of Good Advice
