Kamis, 04 Agustus 2016

Causes And Management Of Adhd In Children

By William Sullivan


The abbreviation ADHD is used widely for the term attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. As a mental disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is categorized under neurodevelopment. Patients are often unable to control their behavior and find it hard to pay attention. The disease is also characterized by excessive activity. ADHD is the most prevalent mental disorder in children, because most kids are diagnosed with it worldwide. ADHD in children has become a global problem as opposed to being a menace in developed countries alone as before.

In order for a child to be diagnosed with this condition, symptoms must prevail for a period of more than six months. The symptoms must also be a source of inability to function in at least to settings. Common settings in which patients have trouble functioning are social, work, school, and home. One must also have attained the criteria for diagnosis before reaching the age of twelve years.

ADHD comes with many observable symptoms. In most cases, symptoms occur together simultaneously. Common symptoms include forgetfulness, being easily distracted, switching activities often, and missing details. Patients cannot maintain focus on one task because they get bored easily. They find it very hard to follow instruction and to understand minor details. Children often seem confused, and they daydream and move slowly.

About 65 percent of all cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the condition occurs alongside another mental disorder. Associated disorders include oppositional defiant disorder, Tourette syndrome, anxiety disorder, mood disorder, primary disorder of vigilance, and learning disability. Additional conditions include restless legs syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance use disorder, and sleep disorder.

This condition has also been associated with language delay, developmental coordination disorder, and persistent bed wetting. Language delays consists of many disorders such as hardship following instructions, slow processing of spoken language, hardship listening in distracting environment, and weakness in short term auditory memory. Difficulty in telling the difference between normal and abnormal level of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity often make diagnosis difficult. Thus, most diagnoses are often made later in life.

Studies link attention deficient hyperactivity disorder to low intelligence quotient. Patients with the condition also score lowly in IQ tests. These findings have always been received with controversy because the low scores may be caused by distractibility and not intellectual incapability. More research is being done to understand why patients often score lowly in IQ tests.

Three types of ADHD exist. The first variety is predominantly inattentive, while the second variety is predominantly hyperactive-impulsive. The third variety combines the first two varieties. The cause often remains unknown in a majority of cases. Trauma and infection of the brain have historically been found to be causes of this mental disorder.

Attention deficient hyperactivity disorder cannot be treated, but rather is managed. Management typically involves medications or counseling or a combination of the two. Medications may cause some improvement in the long-term, but they do not eliminate negative outcomes completely. Some examples of medications used include stimulants, antidepressants, atomoxetine, and alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists.




About the Author:



Tidak ada komentar:

Posting Komentar