Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is referred to a condition of behavioral and developmental disorder, which is mostly seen in children. Many parents and teachers might have come across children with ADD since it is a common disorder. About 3-5% of preschool children in the United States are affected by this disorder. Studies have revealed that more than 50% of ADD cases are due to hereditary factors and about 20% are caused due to environmental factors like exposure to alcohol and smoke during pregnancy and also exposure to lead after birth. Other causes may include brain injury and food additives.

Symptoms of ADD are mostly seen in children before 7 years of age and include inattention (lack of attention and difficulty in listening) and impulsiveness (disorganization and acting before thinking). ADD along with hyperactivity symptoms is called ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Sometimes anxiety, stress and depression may accompany ADD. Previously, it was assumed that the symptoms of ADD disappear as the child grows up. However, it is not true since the symptoms related to hyperactivity may remain even in adolescence. There are no tests to diagnose ADD; it can only be diagnosed by studying the behavior of the child by qualified psychiatrists, psychologists, pediatricians or family physicians.

Treating ADD with Medication

Different treatments of ADD are followed, namely medication treatments, behavioral therapy, and combination of both. According to a study, it has been found out that the medication and combined treatments are found out to be more effective than the behavioral therapy alone. In some specific cases, the combined treatment was proved to be more effective than medication, regarding a child’s behavior, interaction with his/her parents and other social issues. In a combined method, lower doses of medication were prescribed as compared to only medication treatment.

The most effective type of medication that has been used for treatment of ADD is use of stimulant drugs. Stimulants act on the dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter found in the brain responsible for the normal functioning of the central nervous system. There are different types of stimulants that are prescribed according to the particular age group of the children. Here is a list of the generic names along with the age group of children to which the drugs are to be given.

Methylphenidate – 6 years and above
Amphetamine – 3 years and above
Dextroamphetamine – 3 years and older
Dexmethylphenidate – 6 years and older
There may be side effects of stimulants such as headache, loss of appetite, hypertension and change in the blood sugar level, sleep difficulty, depression, etc. It is advisable to discuss with your concerned physician if any of these symptoms are noticed after giving stimulants to avoid further complications.

Recently, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved another medication called atomoxetine for treatment of ADD, which is not a stimulant. It acts on the norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that is involved in the autonomic activity of the nervous system. However, more studies have to be done to confirm whether atomoxetine can replace the present stimulants or not.

The support of the family members and teachers are the most important factors for successful treatment of ADD. Special training of the parents should be conducted to take care of the child suffering from this type of disorder. Every child may show some symptoms of inattention, impulsiveness or hyperactivity to some extent. It is to be noted that not every child with the said symptoms has ADD. Consult a qualified health specialist for a proper diagnosis before coming to any conclusion about a child suffering from any of these behavioral symptoms.

If you have trouble concentrating and/or sitting still, you may have ADHD. For more information about attention deficit disorder, visit the links at the bottom of this article. There is no correlation between people suffering from ADHD and their accomplishments in life. Albert Einstein, Nelson Rockefeller, Galileo, and Thomas Edison are just some of the few famous people who suffer with ADHD.

ADHD can be treated with new drug called Focalin XR. ADHD is more prevalent in boys than girls. There are three types of ADHD, namely predominantly inattentive type, predominantly hyperactive/ impulsive type and a combination of both.

As the name implies, the predominantly inattentive type has symptoms of inattention i.e. absentmindedness, distractibility, a short attention span, and difficulty organizing things. The person suffering from predominantly hyperactive / impulsive ADHA has symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity i.e. unable to be seated in one place for a prolonged period, difficulty for waiting his/her turn. In the combined type, both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity is observed.

After dinner walks, playing in the yard and other outside activities reduces ADHD symptoms. Your diet is also a factor in treating ADHD symptoms. The brand of cookie, potato chip, and ice cream you select in the grocery shop, and the vegetable or fruit you prefer will have a direct effect on your health, ability, and behavior. The products you buy in the grocery shop may contain some chemicals that activate irritability or hyperactivity.

The holistic approach with naturopathic drugs proved to be more effective than the strong and addictive psychiatric drugs (Ritalin, Concerta, and Adderall) in the ADHD treatment. The herbal remedies are used to treat the symptoms gently and effectively.

Common herbal remedies for the treatment of ADHD are Ginkgo biloba, Scuttellaria laterifolia (skull cap), Matricaria recutita(German chamomile), Centella asiatica( Gotu cola) Avina sativa( Green oats), Utrica urens ( Umbabazane in Africa) and Aspalathus linearis ( Rooibos). A natural remedy is less detrimental to your overall health than that of prescription drugs. Children who are using psychiatric drugs such as Ritalin, Concreta and Adderall may develop an addiction and other side effects to their health.

People with ADHD may have other related conditions such as learning disorders, ophthalmic convergence insufficiency, conduct disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. ADHD patients are more likely to have a family member with ADHD or one of the related conditions, implying that ADHD may be genetic.

While medication has long been used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder, Behavioral Therapy has proven to be incredibly effective as well and is now being used in combination with its long utilized counterpart. There are many aspects of Behavior Therapy, but the overall purpose is to train the individual to improve their behavior and be more effective.

There are basically three principles to a behavior therapy approach: set goals that are specific, provide consequences and rewards, and consistently utilize consequences and rewards. Basically, you should lay specific groundwork for acceptable and unacceptable behavior; when either is realized, the consequences, be them positive or negative, should be utilized consistently and continually.

Examples of consequences are time-out, which removes the child from their surroundings for a specific period of time; positive reinforcement, which rewards positive behavior; or a token reward system; which can be added to or taken away from depending on behavior.

There are more in-depth behavior modification techniques that should be utilized to help you child control their behavior. Remember, ADD children suffer from forgetfulness, inattentiveness, impulsiveness, and distractibility. Utilizing a system to reinforce the child’s ability to complete daily activities in spite of these shortcomings will be the most effective. For example, keeping your child on a schedule is a very effective way to keep their activities organized. If they wake up at a certain time, get dressed, take baths, do homework and go to bed at specific times, they will begin to function out of habit, at which point forgetfulness and distractibility become less of an issue.

Likewise, organization helps a child with ADD stay focused and reduces key items being misplaced. Have a set place for books, backpacks, clothes, and toys so your child will react out of habit in returning these items. Typically, routines prove to be an effective treatment course for children with ADD.

You should also be aware of the difficulties your child has, such as distractibility. Limit external stimuli during times when concentration is necessary, such as homework time, or during times when attention is necessary, such as mealtimes.

Help your child stay on task with the use of checklists, charts, or organizers to track responsibilities and monitor progress; as your child ages, this will teach them to function on a daily basis regardless of their disorder. They will learn to write down important tasks and to keep track of things they must accomplish.

Sarah is an acclaimed writer on medical matters, and has written extensively on the subjects of Attention Deficit Disorder, Bird Flu and Cohn’s Disease.

For more of her articles, go to http://www.imedicalvillage.com now.

Attention Deficit Disorder, a challenge to say the least, may have you ready to pull your hair out. Luckily, there are treatments available to help your child be more successful at completing daily tasks, paying attention, and resisting impulsive activity. Generally, there are three most utilized methods for treating ADD: medication, behavior therapy, or alternative medicine.

Medication has been the primary treatment method for Attention Deficit Disorder for decades. Although it has been the center of much controversy the last several years, many argue that the effectiveness of medication can not be matched by any other treatment method. On the other hand, it is also argued that the side effects common of such medication make it a poor choice of therapy. ADD is most often treated by a form of stimulant medication. While this medicine would cause increased activity in most people, it has a calming effect on people with ADD. There are also other forms of medication used as well.

Side effects of the medication used to treat ADD are typically decreased appetite, and weight loss as a result, increased anxiety, insomnia, and/or irritability.

Behavior therapy, on the other hand, does not have the side effects common with medication. On the other hand, it will not have the overnight reaction typical of medication treatment either. Behavior therapy focuses on teaching the child effective management skills to deal with the disorder, as opposed to masking its existence. This may include the use of organizers to keep up with schoolwork, as well as introducing a reward system for good behavior. Such steps teach the child the positive results of good behavior, instead of concentrating on negative behavior and harsh discipline. This treatment route is a long and arduous process and will not display immediate results, although the results that come about may be more long term in nature.

Treating ADD with alternative medicine has also proven to be an area of controversy. Technically, “alternative medicine” is anything that falls outside the realm of standard medication and behavioural treatments. The list of alternative treatments include dietary intervention, nutritional supplements, interactive metronome training, motion sickness medication, treatment for candida yeast, optometric visual training, thyroid treatment, and lead treatment. While these treatments seem to be plentiful, it is important to understand many of these are unproven, or in fact, proven to be ineffective by the scientific community. No treatment should be instituted without the supervision of a doctor.

Sarah is an acclaimed writer on medical matters, and has written extensively on the subjects of Attention Deficit Disorder, Bird Flu and Crohn’s Disease.

For more of her articles, go to http://www.imedicalvillage.com now.