The taboo of ADHD

I still remember my spontaneous reaction when I heard the news that Shawn was classified as an ADHD child…. My mind went blank…. I could not accept the fact that my child is not a normal child. And almost instantaneously a gloomy dark cloud of depression engulfed me. I started self-blaming and felt as if I had hit a flat wall and there is no way I could brace myself to break past this hurdle in life.

It all had started when I was pressing on for answers to determine the finding for Shawn as it has always been a struggle for me to get him settled down long enough to complete even the simplest of the tasks, from chores to homework. And the frequent complaints we received from his kindergarten teachers about his inattentive and disruptive behavior in class are becoming too frequent to even ignore. I approached both our family doctor and Shawn's pediatrician for a reason for his hyperactive behaviours. After 2 years of both doctors telling me that Shawn's behaviour was normal since he can sit down quietly to finish a show/movie, and there should not be any point of alarming for me to think that he has some kind of disorders, I knew I had to seek for a psychiatrist help in order to further understand the causes of Shawn's hyperactivity.

After completing the Vanderbilt's test for Shawn at the hospital, it was determined that Shawn is classified as the Combined Type of ADHD. I further went on to search and understand the causes of ADHD, what is ADHD, ways to treat child with ADHD and how to bring up a child with ADHD. Below are some of the common questions on ADHD :-

What causes ADHD?

ADHD is known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in long, and also known as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) in the earlier days. And what causes ADHD is still unknown, but inherited genetic factors are likely responsible. Research has found a possible link between ADHD with brain structure, the function of chemicals in the brain that help regulate attention and acitivity (dopamine and neropinephrine), and differences in function of some of the areas of the brain that affect attention and impulse control.

A study done by the National Institute of Mental Health found that certain parts of the brain of children with ADHD develops normally but about 3 years later than in children without ADHD. This could possibly be the reason why some children seem to grow out of the disorder.

What are the Symptoms?

The symptoms of ADHD may include inattention, which is having a short attention span and being easily distracted; impulsivity, which can cause a person to do dangerous or unwise things without thinking about the consequences; and hyperactivity, which is appropriate or excessive activity.

The symptoms affect people in all age groups who have ADHD. But typical behaviour varies by age. In preschool-age children, symptoms may be hard to identify. Normal behaviour in young children periodically includes all of the major symptoms. ADHD is distinguished from normal behaviour by the severity and consistency of symptoms.

Children between the ages of 6 and 12 usually show more obvious signs of ADHD than other age groups. School expectations can make symptoms more noticeable. For some children, school is the first setting where academic performance and socialization abilities are assessed. But it often is more difficult to detect ADHD when inattention is the primary symptom and the child is otherwise well-behaved. The presence of ADHD may be indicated by low grades, poor organization and study skills, socialization problems and feeling rejected by peers, and dislike of school and frustration with school work.

Teens between the ages of 13 and 18 may be in better control of disruptive behaviour related to hyperactivity. Other problems that began in earlier years may continue or become worse when ADHD is not treated. Teens with inattention problems who previously managed to copy may start to fall behind in schoolwork and exams. This is especially true when major changes occur, such as starting at a new school or attending college.

Symptoms of ADHD in adults may not be as noticeable. Many adults with ADHD have not been diagnosed and treated. These people can develop possible problems such as depression and difficulty maintaining a job.

Ways to treat ADHD

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has established the symptoms and criteria for diagnosing ADHD. These criteria, like I have mentioned Shawn had the Combined Type is also being listed into the three basic types based on major symptoms; ADHD, predominantly inattentive type, ADHD, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type, and ADHD, combined type. In addition, some people are diagnosed with ADHD, not otherwise specified when symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity are present but do not fit into one of the three types.

A doctor will normally use criteria for diagnosing ADHD to determine if a child has ADHD. Information used to diagnosed the condition will includes an interview with the child, understanding the medical history of the child which includes asking a parent about the child's social, emotional, educational and behavioural history, physical examination and behaviour rating scales for ADHD.

Parents often question whether ADHD is over-diagnosed. Many doctors and researchers believe that the increase in ADHD diagnoses results from improved detection techniques, especially the standardization of assessment criteria.

Early Detection

Early detection and identification of the signs of ADHD does help both parents and doctors to be able to treat the child earlier. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines recommend that doctors ask parents about behavior and school performance during regularly scheduled well-child visits. If one are concerned about how your child's temperament, learning skills, or behavior is developing, do talk with your doctor during your next visit.

Preparation before meeting with your doctor, think about at what age your child's symptoms began. In addition, you and other caregivers should record when the behavior occurs and how long it lasts. An important component of evaluation for ADHD is considering the kinds of problems that result from the behaviors and to what extent they affect academic performance and social behavior.

Effects on Family

Raising a child who has ADHD can be a challenge. Parents must consistently monitor their child and respond to problem behavior appropriately. Should there be other issues that are causing stress within a family, such as divorce, violence, or drug or alcohol abuse, it may be even more difficult to deal with for a child who has ADHD.

Conditions that often accompany ADHD

There is mounting evidence that people with ADHD commonly have one or more other disorders such as dyslexia, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, anxiety, and depression.

Treatment for ADHD can help control such symptoms, and allowing a child to grow and develop normally. Treatment also can decrease the frustration, discouragement, and failure that many people with ADHD experience throughout their lives.