|
It is fascinating to read that Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, had identified symptoms in some of his patients which are just like ADHD. That was over 2,500 years ago! He noted that some of his patients had "quickened responses to sensory experience, but also less tenaciousness because the soul moves on quickly to the next impression". In other words, they were distracted, inattentive and hyperactive. This sounds familiar! Other typical questions about ADHD concern the whole issue of what causes this. It seems that there is a genetic link and we know that 50% of adults with ADHD are more than likely to have children who will have the same problem. It is also estimated that approximately 35% of children with ADHD have a close relative who has the same condition. Environmental factors and lifestyle factors during pregnancy also seem to be implicated although no one has been able to prove it. But there is a high correlation between smoking during pregnancy and also exposure to certain toxins like lead and so on. Dr. Daniel Amen, a world authority on ADHD says that brain scans are key in understanding what is going on in the child's brain. He has identified no less than six different types of ADHD! But the basic message is that the neurotransmitters which carry messages in the brain are just not firing properly. The result is that the child is easily distracted and cannot stay on task. His brain filters are just not working and rather like email filters, a lot of spam is swamping his inbox! Testing for ADHD is often carried out superficially. The questionnaires and the scales are too complicated and long to fill in and it is necessary to interview adults who are closely involved with the child, such as parents and teachers. That all takes time, so very often corners are cut. The result is that ADHD is often over diagnosed and we have children who should never be on mind altering medication at all. That is awful but often their symptoms are merely that of a medical problem such as poor eyesight, a malfunctioning thyroid or some learning disorder. As regards the questions about ADHD treatment, this should be first and foremost effective parenting. That means taking some classes or just following a behavior therapy course. It is easy to implement and if you are consistent, you can really see results after a few months. That is the really the best type of treatment because this will help to resolve the behavior issues and the development of social skills. The pills will never be able to teach your child those! Parents ask questions about ADHD and never get really satisfactory answers which is why I have written this article. Robert Winterson has written on ADHD for many years.
Related Articles -
questions, about, ADHD,
| 
