The children are at their cutest in the toddling age. The age when some children begin to walk and some learn to do so. So it is important that we dress them in clothes that are comfortable to move around. It is also the age when we can dress the baby as we please without the child having a say in what we buy. There are many adorable dresses specially designed for toddlers to please you. These dresses come in different price range and materials to suit every body’s budget and taste. It can also feel wonderful to make your own dresses for the baby. It will let you save lot of money and have more dresses for the toddlers from the money saved.

Designing dresses for the baby can be interesting as well as challenging. Being of the tender age the toddlers may not be able to express themselves of any discomfort while wearing their dresses, so special care and attention should be given in the choice of material and design to make the baby as comfortable as possible. Some adorable dresses may not just be right for weather so particular care should be taken in the choice of material to suit the weather. Like soft cottons will make cute dresses for summer but it will make the toddlers thoroughly uncomfortable in cool weather conditions.

Shopping for your toddler dresses can be really exciting and interesting as there are lots of colorful and marvelous dresses to make ones choice from. The branded dresses though a little pricy are a visual treat to the eyes when worn by the toddlers. In earlier times we had only a few varieties of patterns in children dresses but now it is a massive industry. But with the onslaught of branded dresses more and more manufacturers are coming up every now and then with many innovative ideas, patterns and designs in dresses. Selecting dresses can be a real confusion when there are many adorable ones to choose from.

Toddlers can also be picky if they find some dress interesting to wear. So it will be money well spend if we choose dresses in colors more interesting to toddlers. It will also save you a lot of energy if you choose dresses that are easy to wear as well as remove as you know the toddlers can get very restless when putting on or taking off their dress. There are lots cartoon characters the toddlers do adore so finding them on their dresses can make the toddlers very interested in wearing them.

We should also take good care to change the dresses of the toddlers whenever necessary to avoid health issues as most often they won’t let you know when it is wet or dirty. Getting their dresses soiled, dirty or wet actually make the toddlers happy so it is up to us to see they don’t stay so. So when you are with the toddler make sure you have at least a spare dress handy.

It has been going on for several years now ! The great sugar debate and whether it is true that sugar hypes kids up and makes them even more hyperactive than they normally are. Not a pleasant prospect. ADHD and sugar has had a mixed press and there have been ups and downs. After Feingold, some experts believed that children behaved better because they were getting more attention than usual. That is an interesting theory ! Let’s face it,behaviour modification together with a homeopathic remedy is going to make the real difference in treating ADHD, not ADHD sugar. We now know that when these principles are applied there is an improvement in ADHD symptoms across the board and concentration, attention span and self control all improve.

ADHD and sugar is not going to make a great difference to the ADHD child. In a recent experiment, it was shown that parents when they knew that their kids had been given sugary snacks, they expected them to act out and that was how they perceived their children’s behaviour but really the sugar did not make them more hyperactive or more fidgety.

The whole point of the debate is that sugar can be harmful in great quantities and it is going to cause a mood swing because of a spike in blood sugar levels. Then there is the crash when these fall. It makes sense anyway to avoid sugar in great quantities given that it can lead to diabetes and obesity. A proper diet helps on all fronts.

If you are worried about ADHD and sugar you can try to give your child more of the following foods. The first is to make sure that there are fewer sugary cereals on the breakfast table. Protein in the form of an egg, cheese or soy milk or lean meat is favoured. It is estimated that children only need up to 30 grams of protein a day. The second food which can replace ADHD sugar in many cases is honey. This is a great sweetener and has none of the damaging elements of processed sugar. The third food option to go for is water and avoid fizzy pop, Red Bull and other drinks which often contain caffeine. This is the most important thing to remember because the more processed a food or drink is, the more likely it is to contain additives and colourings and these are the real enemies. Now these have been shown to affect behavior negatively. So much so that the European Parliament and UK has passed legislation banning them.

Watching diet can help a child with ADHD but it is not a simple matter of ADHD and sugar as being the main culprit. ADHD an only be tackled by combining behavior modification with a homeopathic treatment. There are elements in this medicine which can contribute to calming and soothing the nerves thereby reducing hyperactivity. With an ADHD behaviour therapy course, you will be able to come to terms with your child’s behaviour and know how to deal with it.

Part one of this series examined the definitions, several types, and symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This second and final part looks at some causes and how parents can help their children overcome its effects.

ADHD’s environmental causes are historically misunderstood yet easily avoided.

The history of ADHD has been plagued with misconceptions. Originally, it was believed caused by an injury or infection to the brain while the child was still an infant. Later, inattention or hyperactivity was linked to an over-ingestion of artificial sugar, sweeteners and food additives. More recent research has allayed parental guilt by showing that that neither is actually responsible for forming ADHD potential in the child’s brain.

In fact, modern research indicates the same factors contributing to ADHD in children are many of the same practices expectant mothers already avoid for other important reasons. Among other potential health risks, doctors warn that mothers who smoke during pregnancy significantly increase the chances for ADHD in their children. Using alcohol and drugs similarly increases the potential.

Lead poisoning is another possible factor. While the metal has been banned from paint and other construction materials for decades, children living in older buildings and homes may still be at risk.

ADHD medications are effective, but come with controversy.

ADHD varies by child. Doctors and psychiatrists usually develop a treatment regimen that combines re-organizing a child’s work and social environments in tandem with therapy and special medications. These medications are usually stimulants of the methylphenidate variety. Two of the most popular brands are sold under the brand names Ritalin and Concerta. Another popular brand, Adderall, is kind of amphetamine.

Doses are given anywhere from once to several times a day. Effectiveness varies according to the user, and physicians may try out different prescriptions and varying dosages before settling on the best choice for sustained, long-duration use. Side effects of methylphenidate and amphetamine are not generally problematic in the long term. Though some children report feeling “revved up,” the effects are not considered harmful. Additional reported side effects include insomnia, loss of appetite, irritability, and an upset stomach.

Recent research has begun to call into question the benefits of long-term medication therapy. In particular, a study related to the National Institute of Mental Health’s giant Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD recently reported that medications such as Ritalin and Concerta are no more effective after just three years than therapy administered without medication.

Therapy is a crucial step on the road to effective ADHD management.

It’s also important to understand that prescription drugs are not as effective without corresponding therapy and lifestyle management. Parents are strongly encouraged to take an active role in helping their children combat ADHD symptoms. This assistance can include:

Creating a daily routine: All children thrive on structure, and building a pattern to their daily lives helps children feel more relaxed.
Avoiding unnecessary sensory stimuli: Limiting children’s choices (in clothes to wear, what to eat for dinner, et cetera) and turning off television and video games helps their focus by removing “clutter” from their minds.
Communicate and discipline clearly and consistently: Giving clear but short instructions, and administering discipline decisively lets children understand parameters without becoming confused or distracted.
Offer rewards for positive behavior. Families may also decide to enlist the aid of a therapist, who will work with the child on building concentration and social skills. Group therapy is also sometimes effective. Parents may also take special classes and seminars to help them reorient themselves to the needs of an ADHD child.

Behavioral Disorders Related to ADHD

Between twenty and thirty percent of ADHD children also have some form of learning disability. Many struggle with writing, arithmetic, and writing deficiencies, including dyslexia. Other common disabilities include:
Oppositional Defiant Disorder: the child – usually a boy – is confrontational and argumentative with parents and authority figures. As many as one-half of all ADHD patients have some degree of ODD.
Conduct Disorder: A more serious form of ODD, children with CD are aggressively hostile. They will deliberately break rules, threaten or attack classmates, engage in theft or vandalism, and carry weapons. Up to forty percent of ADHD children have CD. Less common disabilities and problems include:
Tourette Syndrome: People suffering from this disorder frequently repeat mannerisms such as sniffling or pronouncing words. They may also involuntarily perform nervous tics
Bipolar Disorder
Anxiety and Depression
Parents worried their child is displaying ADHD symptoms are encouraged to contact a psychiatrist or psychologist for help in making a formal evaluation. Many specialize in working with children. Pediatricians, neurologists and clinical social workers are also able to diagnose the disorder.

Michael Kabel is senior staff writer for http://www.cornerstorkbabygifts.com. Stop by for parenting and baby resources, unique baby gifts, baby gift baskets and baby shower favors.

Toddler’s can be delightful but they can also be extremely demanding and hard work. Toddlers behavior makes them feel and do lots of different illogical actions, Example: not want to be apart from their carers, want attention, are egocentric, active, impulsive and messy, constantly interrupt and show little respect, are stubborn and change their minds frequently, are sensitive to upset, excitement and tension, ask endless questions and may demoralise their parents but behave like angels for other people.

It is important to remember that this is also an exciting phase, as children develop physically, learn to think more logically and become more confident socially. They increasingly explore their surroundings, and learn though observation and interactions with their environment, social interactions and play. For this to happen, children of this age need plenty of stimulation such as:

Books and toys appropriate for their age; these need not be expensive –pots, pans and spoons can be much more exciting to a two year old than a designer toy.
A wide range of social contact with people of all ages, with the space, support and encouragement to develop mutually rewarding relationships.
Exposure to new and interesting opportunities and experiences at a pace that they can cope with: contact with animals, music, water, nature, painting, parties etc.

Play, reality and fantasy.

Children learn through play- it is the medium through which they develop socially, physically and academically, by the age of three years, they should have a fully developed sense of `make believe `.

This is how they learn to exercise their imagination and creativity as well as to understand day-to-day and potentially traumatic experiences, such as going to the doctors or moving house. Pretend play lets them be the `boss` and regain control in a world where they usually have relatively little control, helping them cope with stressful situations in their toddlers behavior .

Parents who try to play with their children often unwittingly take over and set all the rules ,sometimes insisting that the game be played according to `reality` principles , However, such principles may be unrealistic for a young child , and most children quickly get demoralised and give up in this situation , if you can support your child’s play through observation , attention and praise , without taking over , giving advice or competing , they will take great pride in showing you how clever they are . This will not only encourage them to learn but will build their self-esteem and enhance their relationship with you. If, you can help your child have more control over their fantasy world, your child will be more cooperative and compliant with you in the real world.

The ability to distinguish between reality and fantasy develops with age in toddlers behavior; Young children may have difficulty remembering which parts really happened and which was part of the game. Similarly many three year olds may have an imaginary friend.

When your child is playing, you don’t have to be involved closely all the time, Although they will thrive on your undivided attention, they will also benefit from supportive comments while you work alongside them. Children want you to observe their progress and achievements. Your words can be very powerful in either direction, so it pays to stop and think about what you say and your tone of voice before you speak praise goes a long way in building and developing a positive relationship and willing child.

Exploration and experimentation

Toddlers need plenty of stimulation so that they can learn and develop. Even if they have many exciting toys, their curiosity will draw them to less safe areas, such as inside cupboards, lose wires and interesting looking bottles. This is not naughtiness but curiosity, especially if it is not made clear to them what is allowed and what is not. Very young children will not respond to being told not to touch, you can make things easier for yourself by `child proofing` certain areas, so that you can relax and let children explore in safety.
From early on, children want to become independent and do things themselves. They learn by repetitive experiments, so your two year old child may enjoy knocking things off their high chair repetitively and watching you pick them up each time, for your child this is a lesson in cause and effect and helps them to learn to think logically, this is not naughtiness, but normal exploration. Even so you may understandably find this kind of thing irritating and parents vary as to how much of these activities they can tolerate.

It is perfectly appropriate for you to set limits so that your child learns that their behavior is not tolerated in certain setting. You can set aside special times and places for this game, and distract the child into some other activity when you have had enough.

Understanding

Children need to have things explained to them at their own level of toddlers behavior understanding and therefore it is important to check that any task that you set for your child is manageable and appropriate to the stage of development that they are at currently and that they understand what you expect of them. Often what appears to be disobediences is simple misunderstanding. Repeating the same command louder won’t work in this situation, You need to try another approach.

Young children usually think you mean exactly what you say, if you were to lose your temper and make and idle threat to send them to a children’s home for example they will remember it and believe it , even if you have no such intentions! Similarly young children may not have a clear understanding of the difference between right and wrong so, although it is appropriate to teach them this , shouting and punishing them for bad behavior , without clear explanation , will only bewilder and upset them .

Clinginess

Most toddlers behavior in a clingy way, They are not being this way to irritate you, but are showing you how much they love and need you. Behaving in this way actually makes good sense as toddlers need constant supervision while exploring their environment because they don’t know what is safe and what is not. You have to watch their every move constantly to prevent accidents. They should become less clingy by the time they start nursery, as they learn to distinguish for themselves what is and what is not safe.

Children may become attached to cuddly toys or soft blanket, using them as comforters when the person they love is not present. From the child’s point of view, these objects are as individual and unique as people , so if they have a tantrum about losing an old worn out toy, offering to buy a new one will not be the same , if the toy can’t be found , you will need to comfort your child over the loss, rather than simply telling them not to be silly .

It is normal for toddlers to be fearful of new situations but excessive clinginess may be related to you being temporarily physically or emotionally unavailable to your child, for instance, because of hospitalisation, long working hours or depression, they maybe worried that you may have abandon them and may become more clingy as a result, if so shouting at them for behaving this away will only make matters worse. You are more likely to get results if you work on your relationship with your child, reassuring them that you love them and will not abandon them, and arrange for them to spend more time in the care of a trusted friend or relative. Giving them regular one to one time will help, even if brief, for example, a quick story before bedtime.

So sensitive parenting is a key to developing your toddlers behavior as you can have a close and trusting relationship is which you have a huge amount of power and influence as a parent that can help create resilience in your child whatever your current situation.

Learning disabilities or the inability of the human brain to function to its normal acceptable extent is a condition that does not necessarily portray the patient to be an invalid, as is so often perceived by one and all. This condition can range from being a mild one to something to worry about. I have tried to compile a list of learning disabilities that you might find helpful to refer to. These conditions are apparent in both children and adults, hence, we will try to segregate the disabilities according to those of a child and those of an adult.

List of Learning Disabilities in Children
First and foremost, there isn’t a significant difference between what affects a child and what might affect an adult. Most disabilities are born with the child and if not treated tend to progress with age. So let’s look at the various most common types of learning disabilities.

Autism: Among the list of learning disabilities, autism accounts for an average of 12 in every 10,000 children, occurring more in boys than in girls. This condition is far from being similar or displaying identical symptoms in children suffering from it. No two children will show the same or identical characteristics of suffering from autism. It impairs the child’s ability to perceive, understand, reason and communicate. A classic indication of this disease is hypersensitivity to all or some of the five senses, that is:
Inability to tolerate sounds that appear normal to an average person or even hear inaudible soundsSeeing objects that are not really there (some call this hypervision)Ability to pick up smells that normally would not be strong enough to be picked up by the average human olfactory nerve
Autistic children find it difficult communicating with people, however, display intelligent reasoning and mental capabilities with the people they form a strong bond with, which in most cases is the mother or the father.

Dyslexia: This condition encompasses a wide range of problems from the inability to mug things by heart, to having problems understanding and picking up language. Dyslexia is primarily a neurological disorder that affects the child’s ability to:
Comprehend languageSolve simple math problems and confusion with numbersDistinguish between right and leftUnderstand what he or she is asked to doState the English alphabet in order, thus mixing up alphabets and reversing the order of numbersOrganize and plan, thus displaying a relatively poor sense of co-ordination
Read more on dyslexia in children.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder(CAPD): This disorder pertains to the psychological result of an attempt at learning and reasoning a particular concept or a study, through auditory modes of learning. That is, that branch of learning which involves the sense of hearing, such as following spoken commands or directions, or understanding an instruction that is made vocal to the child. Needless to say, the child will thus require conversation to be slower and louder to help him or her understand it better. It might also be indicative of a poor ability to memorize as the instructions often need to be repeated, sometimes not out of misunderstanding the instruction, but of not being able to memorize the same. This problem can sometimes, but rarely, also be considered to be a physical one, due to the presence of fluid in the middle ear which the distorts the signals sent by the outer ear and into the auditory nerve.

Attention Deficit Disorder: This disability too is common among the list of learning disabilities for children. Also known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, children suffering from this condition have trouble, as the name suggests, maintaining concentration on one particular topic for a prolonged period of time. This disability was at first looked upon by people to be a fault on the child’s part in terms of slacking and woolgathering. However, later studies revealed that this indeed was a psychological condition that did require treatment, failing which, would deteriorate the child’s ability to effectively lose out in the long run. This condition is characterized by the following:
Inability to concentrate on one subject for not so long a timeBecoming restless and fidgety after a whileBecoming easily distracted by external stimuliInability to complete a task or project in a given span of timeImpatience and getting frustrated, tendency of becoming violent because of frustrationCarelessness in terms of misplacing essential objects or articles, forgetfulness to a small degree
This problem becomes apparent when the child is under stress, such as that of homework or project deadlines. According to experts, when the child starts displaying these characteristics, the school authorities should first be contacted and a thorough assessment should be conducted in the fields that the child is having a problem with, thereafter, it’s the parent’s choice to either enroll the child into the school’s special program, considering the school has one, or seek professional help with the full report submitted by the school authorities as regards the child’s areas that require help. Read more on ADHD symptoms.

Dyscalculia: This disability is specifically concerned with numbers and solving math equations which makes it a math learning disability. Such as it may seem, this problem however, is not limited to math as it has a huge bearing on a child’s everyday life. Mathematics helps a person develop his or her brain in a manner that involves logic, organizing, rearranging and problem solving, which is seen as part and parcel of everyday life. So ignoring the problem will result in the child paying a heavy sum (literally and metaphorically). Children with this condition, have difficulty in:
Map readingFollowing directionsThey are unable to gauge the passage of timeThey face difficulties in keeping score cards in simple games where points need to be calculated
Dysgraphia: This disability is concerned with the child’s ability to form words or sentences on a piece of paper, i.e. writing. The child is unable to pen down letters and words in a proper order, resulting in the sentences and words appearing distorted and meaningless. This condition should also be placed under the list of learning disabilities, as it says a lot of the child’s mental capacity to recognize order and method. The fact that the writing appears haywire is indicative of the child’s confusion. This condition though apparent only in the child’s writing speaks of a lot more than just that. This difficulty in placing words and letters in order can also affects the child’s daily activities when it comes to order and method.

Note: It has to be borne in mind that this list of learning disabilities is not what encompasses the entire problem. A child suffering from learning disabilities may or may not have any of the conditions as aforementioned. Hence, it would be unwise to state that this is all what the syndrome is all about or create a list of specific learning disabilities, because it is just not so.

You will find an extensive and comprehensive list in disabilities, and on the lighter side, refer to famous people with learning disabilities.

In many cases, there are symptoms of learning disabilities that often go un-noticed or aren’t paid much attention to, because it does not pose that great a risk to the child’s overall well-being. It is very easy to provide a solution and label a certain condition by placing a name against it, however, the human mind as it is, is complex enough to keep us continuously baffled and keep on researching. There are a myriad other conditions and this list of learning disabilities can go on and on. The list of learning disabilities found in adults are mostly behavioral problems, brought about through trauma to the brain or through external factors.

With an estimated 5-million plus Americans alone suffering from Alzheimers disease, there is no denying this condition is a real problem. With no definitive cause or cure, Alzheimers is characterized by its slow, but steady ravaging of a person’s mental capacity.

The symptoms of the disease vary a bit from person to person and also between stages. Very early signs of the disease include very minor forgetfulness, which can be attributed to many other causes, as well. As the disease progresses, there is a greater loss of mental abilities. In its final stages, Alzheimers patients are typically totally dependant on caregivers for everything from feedings to tying their shoes.

The disease operates somewhat like a thief in the night, coming in and gradually stripping away a person’s memories, abilities and even identity. It can take up to 20 years for this condition to fully progress, or as little as five. The condition has great impacts not only on the patient, but also family and friends. Loved ones with this disease are very likely to completely forget their families as this condition progresses.

While research into the causes and potential cures continues, right now there are no solid answers. Some risk factors have been identified, however. They include family history and age. The disease is known to strike mostly those age 65 and over, although much younger cases have been documented. The genetic link seems to be strong, but it must be noted that not all patients with this disease have a family history of it.

Alzheimers itself is characterized by the formation of brain abnormalities over time. These plaques and tangles are caused by certain proteins, but how the tangles and plaques form exactly is still under study.

While in its earlier phases, Alzheimers is often mistaken for “normal” aging. This disease is anything but. Although there is no known cure, there are some medications and therapies that have worked in helping slow the progress of the condition. A proper diagnosis is vital, however.

Sadly, this condition is often the one chosen to label many other forms of dementia. The predominance of the disease is generally why this happens. The reality is that there are many, many other conditions that can have very similar symptoms, especially in the early and middle stages. Many of these other conditions are treatable, reversible and even short-lived. It is extremely important to rule out other potential causes for symptoms before an Alzheimers diagnosis is settled upon.

If the symptoms of Alzheimers are suspected in a loved one, it is very important to seek help. It is also important to look for other potential causes for the behavior. Things such as bad medication combinations, extreme stress, normal aging and even other diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s can evoke similar symptoms in some cases.

With more than five million cases diagnosed in the United States along, there is no doubt that Alzheimers is a major problem for the aging community. The race is on to an answer to this most troubling of medical conditions. Robbing people of their minds.

Impulsiveness, lack of attention and hyperactivity are the common traits of children with ADHD. All of these can make it hard to teach children in a school environment. Therefore it is important that when teaching ADHD children the day is carefully planned to try and ensure the children are kept organized and motivated to complete tasks.

Teachers who have ADHD children in their classes need to be accepting and accommodating of the condition. Although some children with ADHD may have learning difficulties that are associated with ADHD behaviors, they are not unintelligent, they just need to be given the right environment in which to learn.

So, what steps can be taken to effectively teach ADHD children? First and foremost, it helps to understand their uniqueness. Take a look at the list of strategies for teaching children with ADHD below.

• Introduce the child to an organized environment. When in school, make use of folders and dividers on his desk so he’ll be able to spot things easily. Also a color coding system to distinguish the textbook covers for specific subjects can be useful.

• Children with ADHD can struggle with writing and numerical work. Showing him how to use his finger or pencil across the pages when reading to help keep concentration and so he doesn’t lose his place. When writing, encourage him to use his fingers to specify spacing and graph paper is useful when writing numbers to keep things aligned.

• Reduce his homework. Too much homework can be really overwhelming for kids with ADHD. Better to give a lesser amount and have it completed than allocate a lot and have nothing back. As much as possible, give homework that involves the use of materials instead of requiring lots of writing.

• Provide a warm and welcoming classroom environment, but one that doesn’t offer too many distractions. Think about where you sit children with ADHD to allow them the best chance for concentrating.

• Always show the value of organization in the classroom. Give them time to fix his things by themselves.

• Be liberal with praise. Praise the good deeds and give rewards to those who did well in the schoolwork and homework. Positive feedback will generally work better than negative feedback.

• Monitor the child’s progress. Always have the parents involved.

• Be clear on when moving around is acceptable and when it’s not. Don’t expect them to sit in their seats all day.

• Encourage him to work in groups to encourage interaction with peers.

Parents can also find it hard to find solutions to ADHD behavior. However, it is essential that the parents of an ADHD child get involved with his progress and transition. Keep up to date with what’s happening at school and find out if there is actions you can take at home that will help cement what is being taught in school.

When it comes to homework it is important to be supportive, without actually doing the homework for your child.

Provide a quiet space that is free from distractions, both visual and aural. Take a look at what homework is required and ensure your child understands what they need to do. Answer any questions they have and provide the necessary materials, but then leave them to complete the work.

When the homework is finished review it with your child. If they’ve made mistakes or missed out a section, point it out, assure them that it is alright to make mistakes, but that mistakes need correcting. Always praise him for a good job.

For more teaching tips on helping ADHD children get through their schoolwork, sign up for the free ADHD newsletter below.

Teaching ADHD children can be challenging, but it also comes with rewards. By putting some simple strategies in place you can make the learning environment much easier for all concerned.

I am researching autism in children under 3 right now. My friend and I have been discussing my son. We believe, my son is showing signs of autism. My friend said he has autistic children in his family and those children have big heads. Like rounder in the back of the head.
Does anyone know if this is typical in autism?

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It’s typical of autism.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/200…
In fact, all children who suffer severe stress in early infancy–premature birth, caesarean birth, surgery or severe illness shortly after birth, etc– experience rapid neuronal overgrowth.
The big exception is a supposed form of autism called “Rett Syndrome” where one of the symptoms is microcephaly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rett_syndro…

You might have seen some kids who are not able to pay attention, who cannot concentrate or who are not able to follow the instructions even after explained clearly. Such kids may be the victims of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD). ADD is a neurological disorder, which typically affects children and may persist in adulthood. Children with ADD show inability to concentrate, hyperactivity and forgetfulness. Such children have poor performance in school, troubled relationships and low self-esteem.

Causes of ADD

There are a number of factors that can contribute to develop ADD in children. Certain modifications in brain anatomy and function are considered one of the main causes of ADD. The neurotransmitter dopamine (brain chemicals) is mainly responsible for such behavioral changes. Some other causes of ADHD are heredity, exposure to environmental toxins, drug abuse and maternal smoking.

Signs and Symptoms of ADD

ADD is also referred to as minimal brain dysfunction. ADD/ADHD affects about 8-10% of school-age children. Boys are more likely to develop this disorder than girls. Children and adults affected by ADD are not able to control their spontaneous responses involving movement, attentiveness and speech, leading to hyperactivity, inattentiveness and impulsive behavior. Signs and symptoms of ADD are categorized as inattentiveness symptoms and hyperactivity-impulsive behavior symptoms.

Inattentiveness symptoms: Some of the common inattentiveness symptoms are as follows:

Children with ADD often fail to give close attention to details. Hence, they make several mistakes in schoolwork. They are not able to sustain attention in any kind of tasks or at play.
They usually tend to lose things such as toys, tools, books, etc.
These children are unable to follow the instructions properly and complete the assigned task.
Children with ADD are not able to organize tasks or activities. They are distracted easily.
They are frequently forgetful about daily activities.
You may notice that children with ADD don’t listen to you carefully, even if spoken directly.
They tend to avoid any task that involves mental efforts.
Hyperactivity-impulsive behavior symptoms: Excessive activity is one of the common symptoms associated with ADD. Certain symptoms related to hyperactivity are as follows:
Children with ADD often move their hands or feet restlessly. They have a tendency to squirm or fidget frequently.
They tend to leave their seats, when expected to remain seated.
Excessive scaling or running at appropriate timings is another important sign of hyperactivity. Hyperactivity symptoms are seen in the form of constant restlessness in adolescents.
Children with ADD are not able to play or do leisurely things peacefully. Incessant talking without a sense when to stop is common with these children.
Acting without thinking is the major sign of impulsiveness. Children with ADD have often a tendency to blurt out answers, before the questions are being finished. They have a tendency to interrupt with others’ conversations or games. They are too impatient to wait for their turn during a game. They tend to interrupt during social events and demand too much attention.

Inattentiveness symptoms are observed in children of 8-9 years of age. These symptoms usually persist lifelong. Hyperactivity symptoms start by 5 years of age and become extremely severe between 7 and 8 years of age. Children with ADD have low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and aggressive or violent behavior.

The treatment of ADD emphasizes on controlling signs and symptoms of ADD and improving child’s mental abilities. The treatment constitutes a combination of medications and various therapies. ADHD medications such as dextroamphetamine or methylphenidate can help in increasing attention and concentration and reducing hyperactivity and impulsivity. Children with ADD benefit from different therapies such as behavioral therapy, psychotherapy and family therapy. A structured classroom management and parent education also play a significant role while dealing with ADD.

Antipsychotic drugs for children have taken off in the US on the back of a willingness to diagnose those with behavioral problems as having manic depression. Even children barely out of babyhood are getting a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, the modern term for the condition.

The chief symptoms are mood swings, which, however, are common in children of any age.

David Healy, an expert on bipolar disorder, said there were now 2.5 million American children on antipsychotics. However, the UK guidelines on the disorder, from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, urge caution.

One drug which prompted concern was Risperdal, originally to be sold for children with “irritability” or difficult behavior in autism. It was reviewed by experts for the Medicines and Health care products Regulatory Agency because of “concern about the potential misuse of [it] as … long-term chemical control”. The drug’s maker, Janssen-Cilag, though it won a license for it, withdrew its application, citing differences with the authority.

Some observers say a license with conditions attached might have curbed the use of such drugs, and that where there is no licensing, doctors just have to rely on their own judgment on treatments. Many consult the British National Formulary for Children. But, says Sarah Yates, former chair of a primary care trust in Cambridgeshire, the BNF fails to mention the MHRA’s reservations about anti-psychotics.

Sami Timimi, a child psychiatrist, criticizes the “social trend of using powerful, largely ineffective medicines to control the behavior of [children] who have never had a say in what is imposed on them”.