What Is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is a behavioral condition that interferes with focus, self-control, functioning, and social skills. People with this condition have trouble with time management, dealing with emotions, remembering things, completing tasks, and difficulty in controlling their impulsive behavior.
What Is Impulsivity?
Impulsive behavior is acting or reacting hastily without giving a second thought. Impulsive actions are poorly conceived, expressed prematurely, and risky, often resulting in undesirable consequences.
What Is Hyperactivity?
Hyperactivity involves over-enthusiastic patients who are not willing to remain in a place, are highly impulsive and have excessive muscular movements. Hyperactivity usually develops at school age and might recede as the child grows up. It often co-exists with attention- deficit and hyperactivity disorder.
What Are the Types of Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder?
The different types of ADHD are as follows -
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Type 1: Attention-deficit or hyperactivity disorder predominantly inattentive.
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Type 2: Attention-deficit or hyperactivity disorder predominantly hyperactive-impulsive.
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Type 3: Attention-deficit or hyperactivity disorder combined.
What Are the Symptoms?
The symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder show up at different ages in different people. They may be diagnosed early in life or well into adulthood when faced with situations that demand being organized and social. It is important to note that there is no impact on the child's IQ (intelligence quotient). They are as smart as their peers. Although they appear to lack focus, they can excessively focus on certain tasks that they find interesting.
There are two categories of symptoms in attention- deficit hyperactivity disorder, which includes:
Symptoms of Inattention:
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Overlook details.
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Make careless mistakes.
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Problem giving attention to the task at hand.
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Do not realize when their name is called.
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Do not follow instructions or directions.
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Easily get distracted or sidetracked.
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Problems with organizing their things.
Symptoms of Hyperactivity-Impulsivity:
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Restless in their seats.
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Run around when inappropriate.
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They cannot pursue hobbies patiently.
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Interrupt others during discussions.
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Blurts out the answer before the question is done.
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Have a hard time waiting for their turn.
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Lose their things that are necessary for their activities or tasks, such as pencils, wallets, books, tools, keys, eyeglasses, etc.
What Are the Causes?
Comparative studies of brain images of children with Attention- deficit and hyperactivity disorder and those without have shown that in kids with attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder, specific parts of the brain involved in executive functioning develop slower than children their age. This is the reason kids with Attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder act younger than their peers.
Who Are the Famous Personalities With Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder?
There are many misconceptions that these people are lazy and less smart. Actually, that is not true because there are many people who made footprints in their field, in spite of being an attention-deficit person.
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Michael Phelps -A famous American swimmer.
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Karina Smirnoff - A professional dancer.
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Adam Levine - A magazine writer and composer.
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Emma Watson - A lead role in Harry Potter, advocate.
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Lisa Ling - A journalist.
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Jessica Mccabe - Actress and YouTuber.
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Cammi Granato - Hockey player.
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Channing Tatum - A dancer.
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Howie Mandel - A stand-up comedian and show host.
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Justin Timberlake - An actor and singer.
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Simone Biles - Gymnast.
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Solange Knowles - A singer.
What Are the Risk Factors?
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Genetics does play a major role.
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Premature birth.
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Exposure to smoking, alcohol, drug use or environmental toxins during early childhood, or the mother during pregnancy.
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Brain injuries.
What Are the Warning Signs?
Consult the child's pediatrician if you notice some of the worrying signs.
- Forgets things instantly.
- Fail to finish what they started.
- Demanding with the teachers at school.
- Behave rashly when taken outside.
- Seem unpopular with their peers.
How Is It Diagnosed?
There are no imaging tests to detect attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Psychologists and psychiatrists use The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The doctor will use a combination of history from the child's parents, feedback from school teachers, and a set of questions about the child's behavior that is to be answered by the parents.
What Is the Treatment Option?
There is no cure for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The simultaneous use of medication and psychotherapy such as cognitive behavior therapy is found to be very beneficial in managing their symptoms.
Tips to Manage Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder:
As parents, it can get challenging to handle a child diagnosed with ADHD and there may be many questions arising in their heads. It is important to realize that it is not that the child is unwilling to focus on what he is doing, but he or she is unable to. Once this is clear, parents can gradually work out a strategy that works best for them and their child as well as others in the family. Here is how parents can help their child 'fit in'.
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Primarily, understand the condition in depth. Read up or attend seminars to comprehend the issues that the child is undergoing.
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Joining support groups to connect with other parents with similar concerns so that parents can discuss their concerns and understand the latest updates on treatments and to know about nearby specialists.
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Take stress management lessons to help deal with frustrations arising from day-to-day situations.
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Fix a schedule or routine for the child by allocating specific times in the day for specific activities such as playtime, mealtime, homework, computer usage (screen time) and bedtime.
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Segregate and organize the child's belongings such as books, clothes, toys, stationeries, school supplies, etc., and explain the importance of staying organized.
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Be clear with directions. Keep it short and crisp.
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Make a list of tasks to complete and stick it somewhere visible for them.
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Breakdown large instructions into simpler steps and give them as separate instructions.
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Praise the child on completeion of a task, even if it feels like a small accomplishment.
What Is the Differential Diagnosis?
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
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Mental retardation (MR).
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Personality disorder.