by Sunshine Simmons

Created on: August 30, 2008

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or more commonly known as ADHD, is a condition that affects up to 10% of school-age children. ADHD affects the neurons in the brain from communicating correctly, specifically when in relation to behaviors, thinking, focus, emotions, and attention. Children who display signs of ADHD used to be labeled as "bad" or "unruly", and were punished for their behavior. It was also believed that children "grew out" of ADHD with adolescence, but we now know that it spans into adulthood as well. With the correct blend of environmental changes, diet, therapies, and medications, these children are able to lead normal and successful lives.

Causes

Many theories are under investigation as to the cause of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder such as genetics and biological environmental attributes. Some studies show that there are a higher number of children with ADHD who were born to mothers that smoked or drank during pregnancy. High levels of lead, sugar, and food additives are being studied.

Signs and Symptoms

Children with ADHD have a whole gamete of signs and symptoms including:
A tendency to be very impulsive and unable to focus
Hyperactivity and lack of self-control
Inability to follow instruction and acting without thinking
They may seem unmotivated or unable to complete tasks
Lack concentration and struggling in school
Constantly being unorganized and loosing things
Not understanding why they do the things they do

How do you determine whether or not it's ADHD?

Talk to a doctor-A family who feels that they may have a child with ADHD should first talk to the child's pediatrician. S/he may do an assessment or refer you to a specialist who will be able to rule out other causes of behavior, as there are other contributing conditions that may mimic the symptoms of ADHD.

Talk to people who provide care for the child-Teachers and caregivers will then be asked to rate their observations of the child's behavior on standardized forms. These forms allow people who may have observed the child's behaviors to rate it against normal behavior of a child the same age.

Find a specialist-The specialist will also administer tests to the child, such as putting them in a situation that requires focus to complete a task.

Treatment Options

Medication is a fear of many parents who think they may have a child with ADHD. Medications such as Ritalin may be prescribed. Some medications for ADHD are stimulants, some are not. Some parents fear medications,

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