Adults and ADHD How Common is It

ADHD has become more widely known as a children’s disorder, but it is also something adults have to contend with. Read more about it here.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is usually diagnosed in children, thought it can often continue on into adulthood. In recent years, adult ADHD has become quite common, though it manifests slightly different symptoms than it normally does in children.

Adult ADHD is usually diagnosed in adults who exhibit inattentiveness in their personal relationships at work and at home with their family. Adult sufferers often find it difficult to sustain a job and a relationship.

Recognizing ADHD in adults

In general, adult sufferers tend to experience problems at work, which usually results in frequent job changes. Because of these problems they tend to have a lower socioeconomic status, by virtue of being unable to sustain a job long-term, which is a primary requirement of career development.

Adult sufferers of ADHD usually have a history of failure in professional and personal endeavors, and end up in lower-level jobs that don’t require organizational skills, and have less responsibility.

Adults with ADHD tend to find it difficult to support themselves, and their families, which often results in the breakdown of the family unit. Adults suffering from ADHD often have a history of multiple relationships and marriages.

Diagnosing ADHD in adults

No one should take it upon themselves to diagnose a friend or self-diagnose. This can lead to misunderstanding. But the more you know about an illness, the quicker you can suggest to a friend to get help. Or if you recognise symptoms in yourself, awareness can help you seek the proper help.

ADHD sufferers fall into three types:

1. The inattentive type
2. The hyperactive and impulsive type
3. A combination of types 1 and 2.

The above types of symptoms generally need to be present for at least six months, and a person must be experiencing difficulties in normal social functioning. If you recognize any of these types, then seek professional help immediately.

Dylan Miles, journalist, and website builder, lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.healthcareplace.net on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Share This

Posted on June 7th, 2008 by ryhan
Filed under: Child Care | No Comments »

School and a Child with ADHD

What teacher an ADHD child has is critical to their success in school.
As a parent, you want to research what teacher your child will have to
see what their background is. You want a teacher who understands the
disorder or who is willing to learn about ADD. You want a teacher
who will keep in regular contact with you, the parent. You will
want a teacher who is encouraging, motivating and has clear and
consistent rules and goals. You want a teacher who is dynamic and
switches their teaching up quite a bit (ADHD children are much more
prone to boredom). You want a teacher who will teach slowly and
clearly, and who will repeat things if necessary. ADHD children
often need to have things repeated because their minds wander.
And you definitely need to have a teacher who will not undermine
treatment your child is getting outside of the classroom.

Keep in mind that under federal law, a handicapped child must have
whatever modifications that are needed. With ADHD, a child is
often handicapped in many ways in the school environment. But often,
the disorder is overlooked and children with ADHD suffer from this
oversight in education. Because there is not enough funding and
people to help, ADD is ignored unless parents step up and advocate for
their children.

Parents need to be the main ones advocated for their child. They
should not rely on teachers, social workers, psychologist and other
personnel at the school. Because of this, parents need to be educated
as to what they can do for their children. If the school does not
listen to your demands or talks down to you, do not give in. This is
your child’s education, and you have a right to speak up.

If it is difficult for you to speak for your child, it is possible to
get a school advocate. This is a person who knows how to deal
with schools and can help your child out. To find out more about
this, contact CHADD (a national support group for people with ADD) or
the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund.

Specifically, for the teacher, there are a few tips that will help in
teaching a child with ADHD. The main thing is you want to
minimize any distractions that will catch the child’s attention. Do not
use bright, shiny colors on the walls; this will distract the
child. Put the child up front to decrease their straying
attention. Write the rules of classroom and display it
clearly. Help the ADD child know that it is ok to ask for
additional help. Positive encouragement works wonders, especially
with children with ADD. In regards to projects, allow more time
for ADD children. Let the ADD children have frequent breaks to
give their attention span a break.

Keith Londrie II is a well known author. For more information on ADHD, please visit ADHD for a wealth of information. You may also want to visit keith’s own web site at http://keithlondrie.com/

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Share This

Posted on April 24th, 2008 by ryhan
Filed under: Child Care | No Comments »

ADHD Symptoms - Impulsive behavior and Hyperactivity

Inattention, impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity are the symptoms most noticed among children suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or commonly known as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). It becomes difficult to make an accurate ADHD judgment since almost all children at some stage of their life are impulsive or inattentive. For the children who show signs of ADHD symptoms, each new day is a challenge to maintain the status quo. These symptoms may not always be the same according to the environs but they do have an affect on their behavior.

On the basis of the symptoms, ADHD can be classified into three types: the Impulsive-hyperactive, the Inattentive and the Inattentive-hyperactive -impulsive. But even so, there are hardly any children who show all the symptoms. It is for the parents or the teachers to pay attention and recognize these symptoms. Generally, a child who is inattentive is unlikely to be hyperactive-impulsive. But there are some children who suffer from both the symptoms. The symptoms become more evident over a period of six months to one year.

Also, it should not be concluded that all children who show signs of impulsiveness or are hyperactive suffer from ADHD. According to doctors, the symptoms should be unrelenting and should occur before they reach the age of seven. The symptoms of ADHD generally become evident as the child finishes the prep school.

The parents at home and teachers at school are the best judges. They can help in identifying the problem at an early stage by studying the behavioral responses. Most of these symptoms are situation dependent.

For instance a child who is suffering from hyperactive -impulsive ADHD will be difficult to control in the class. He will be unable to sit still for more than a hardly any minutes and will be constantly fidgeting. He will also be easily distracted and take impulsive actions without giving a thought. Such children are overactive in the playfield and can often be impatient and aggressive.

The final judgment must be left to a specialist because there are chances that an average child can be misdiagnosed as an ADHD child and a child actually suffering from the disorder will not have a correct diagnosis. Many sources of information are available for ADD and ADHD Testing.

It is for the teachers or the parents to recognize these symptoms. Generally, a child who is inattentive is unlikely to be hyperactive-impulsive. But there are some children who suffer from both the symptoms. The symptoms become more apparent over a period of six months to one year.

On the other hand, children who suffer from Inattentive ADHD are likely to be completely opposite. They prefer to sit alone and handle things by themselves. They can also be classified as daydreamers. Social relations are not a bother for most of these children but they tend to be lazy and lethargic in nature. They might not be able to easily adapt to new situations and can find school work challenging.

http://www.add101.info/testing-add-and-adhd.htm

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Share This

Posted on April 13th, 2008 by ryhan
Filed under: Child Care | No Comments »

Close
E-mail It