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ADD is a behavioral condition that makes focusing on everyday tasks and achieving simple goals difficult. II. What are the factors in determining if a child has ADD? A. Children with ADD have a hard time being organized, staying focused, thinking before acting, sitting still, paying attention, and adapting. B. ADD patients many times will struggle socially in school and at home. C. Children need to show symptoms in two or more settings. 1. One setting could be school. 2. One setting could be at home. 3. A third setting could be ATA daycare.
Ill. What does the brain have to do with ADD? A. Neurotransmitters or chemical messengers are produced inside the brain. 1. One function that these help to control is attention. 2. Another function that they help control is impulsiveness. B. Dopamine is produced to enhance signals, improve attention, improve focus, and other cognitive functions. IV. Exact causes of ADD are not known, but some things have been determined to be a factor in helping to cause this disorder. A. ADD is a highly inheritable neurologically based condition. 1 .
Certain inherited genes have said to carry over into children of ADD patients. 2. 25% of ADD children’s parents are also diagnosed with this disorder. B. Brain development, brain trauma from injury, or brain trauma from an illness such as tumors/strokes can be a contributing factor to ADD. C. Some other factors that can contribute are lead exposure or alcohol/ tobacco use during pregnancy. V. The following can be diagnostic criteria for ADD; 6 symptoms off of a list should persist for 6 months before being diagnosed. A. The first list is the inattentive disorganized dimension. . Some symptoms include failure to notice details, trouble paying attention to tasks, doesn’t listen, struggles organizing, or misplaces things for assignments. Grieve 2 2. The children are also easily distracted or forget easily. B. The second one is the hyperactivity impulsively dimension. 1. Some of these symptoms are fidgets with hands or feet, cannot stay seated, restlessness, cannot do things quietly, talks excessively, or is always on the go. 2. They also have a tendency to blurt out answers before the question is finished, cannot wait their turn, or interrupts others.
VI. Based on the research of these lists, there are 3 subtypes of ADD. A. Predominantly inattentive is when six symptoms of the 1 SST list appear. B. Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive is when 6 symptoms from the second yep show. C. Combined is when there are 6 symptoms of either list that are present in a person. VII. “Orchid Children” is an article written about the study of ADD chi lilied. A. Orchid children is when ADD children are compared to an orchid because like orchids, they are fragile and fickle, but if given the proper care, they will thrive. . With the right environment and parenting, these children will happily, become more creative, and more successful. 2. Early life experiences that are positive and a great parent bonding, gives them the ability to feel like they can accomplish more. B. Dandelion children are considered to represent the “normal” child because they are more resilient and hardy to everyday life as is a Dandelion. C. Key behavioral genes make these children more vulnerable to personality disorders and mood changes. D.
Orchid children and Dandelion children can provide an adaptive flexibility in society with each other that cannot be produced alone, which allows them both to be a more well-rounded individual. VIII. Children diagnosed with ADD are more likely to use drugs and abuse substances. A. Children with ADD are 3 times more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol Han those without this disorder. B. They are also twice as likely to experiment with nicotine and illicit illegal drugs. C. 1/4 of 18-44 year old adults that depend on substances have ADD. D.
This is where they find social acceptance and are able to forget about their problems and reality. IX- ADD is sometimes Overly diagnosed and can masquerade like other disorders. A. Some of these that are misdiagnosed as ADD are thyroid disease, anemia, hypoglycemia, diabetes, post concussion syndrome, seizure disorder, side affects from other drugs or certain foods, depression, anxiety, or mild psychosis. B. Other hidden problems could also be sleep apneas, other hormonal diseases, lead poisoning, inhalation poisoning malnutrition, Vision problems, hearing problems, sensory issues, or other learning disabilities.
X. ADD is not all negative; there are some positive advantages that ADD patients experience. A. Good qualities have also been found in those that are diagnosed with this disorder like creativity, charming, good judge of character, sense of humor, flexibility, sensitive to the environment, intuitiveness, passionate, enthusiastic, tries to please by doing better, and willing to take risks. B. One of the best things is that children with ADD forgive easily. XSL. Society can help to alleviate the pressures felt by ADD children by providing a safe happy environment for them to thrive in.
A. Parents, teachers, professionals, and daycare providers can work together to devise a Grieve 3 plan and set up a routine that stays the same for these children everyday. B. Alternative methods are being tried to improve on ADD symptoms. 1. Some of these are changes in diet, taking vitamins or minerals, taking herbs, or hypnotherapy. 2. No alternative methods have been tested and proven to work. C. Exercise encourages the production of Dopamine, Morphogenesis, and Serotonin in the brain which has the same effect as stimulant medications on ADD symptoms. D.
Stimulants medication is the most popular and proven treatment for ADD. 1. Stimulants affect how the brain controls impulses and regulates behavior and attention. 2. Stimulants influence the neurotransmitters in the brain. 3. Stimulants help to control inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. 4. Stimulant medication helps show improvement in up to 90% of ADD 5. Stimulant medications have shown some side effects, but long term harm has to been shown. A. Stomachaches, headaches, and a brief slowing of growth are a few of the side effects that have been documented. B.
Decreased appetite and sleeping are the most prominent side effects of these medications. 6. Stimulants have to be used as prescribed to get the ultimate success and if had. Abused they may cause more problems than was previously a. If abused one can become addicted because the body is receiving medication that it does not need. B. Although teens that are abusing stimulant medication think that their grades will improve because they can stay awake longer, which makes hem think they are more alert; in actuality research has shown a decline in their grades because of the abuse.
XII. Improvements from stimulant medications can be more successful along with a safe environment and the right counseling too. A. Stimulant medication can help higher ones self-esteem and self-worth which in return can help them feel better about themselves and be able to succeed in society. B. Parents, teachers, counselors, and those that are around ADD children should work together to provide them with the proper tools for success and maintain a high quality of life.