Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD) have symptoms that begin in childhood and continue to adulthood.  Usually, the symptoms cause problems at home, work, school and in relationships.

Doing homework can be a real challenge when a child has ADHD.  If you find some kind of structure for doing homework, it should make it easier for the child to concentrate.

Experts know that people with ADHD have different genes that control the level of some chemicals in the brain.  Not all have a genetic link, but still this condition has been diagnosed in people whose mothers smoked or drank alcohol while pregnant.  Also in those whose mothers had difficult pregnancies. 

 There are three symptoms for ADHD:  inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity.  For inattention some or all of the following can be present

• difficulty paying attention to details and tendency to make careless mistakes in school or other activities; producing work that is often messy and careless 
• easily distracted by irrelevant stimuli and frequently interrupting ongoing tasks to attend to trivial noises or events that are usually ignored by others 
• inability to sustain attention on tasks or activities
• difficulty finishing schoolwork or paperwork or performing tasks that require concentration 
• frequent shifts from one uncompleted activity to another 
• procrastination
• disorganized work habits 
• forgetfulness in daily activities (for example, missing appointments, forgetting to bring lunch)
• failure to complete tasks such as homework or chores 
• frequent shifts in conversation, not listening to others, not keeping one's mind on conversations, and not following details or rules of activities in social situations 

For hyperactivity  it is often seen by age seven.  It is a bit different depending on the age level.

• fidgeting, squirming when seated
• getting up frequently to walk or run around
• running or climbing excessively when it's inappropriate (in teens this may appear as restlessness)
• having difficulty playing quietly or engaging in quiet leisure activities 
• being always on the go 
• often talking excessively 

 Impulsivity symptoms include the following:

• impatience
• difficulty delaying responses
• blurting out answers before questions have been completed
• difficulty awaiting one's turn
• frequently interrupting or intruding on others to the point of causing problems in social or work settings
• initiating conversations at inappropriate times

ADHD is diagnosed when the above symptoms occur in two different places like school and home and for at least 6 months.  There are however, some warning signs for ADHD.

• not listening to instructions
• being unable to get organized, either at home or at school
• fidgeting, especially with the hands and feet
• talking too much
• failing to finish projects, including chores and homework
• not paying attention to and responding to details
• getting poor grades in school
• being isolated from peers due to poor grades and secondary depression

If you think that someone you know have some or all of the aabove symptoms, consult  a Doctor to start the best treatment to help your loved one.