ATTENTION DEFICIENT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER(ADHD)
Introduction:
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a developmental and behavioral disorder in which a child or an adult consistently display certain characteristic behaviors such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsive attitude.
There was a time when children with ADHD were abused to be naughty and dumb. However, now it is understood that they call for special attention by parents, family members, teachers as well as the society.
ADHD is one of the most common disorders among children (3-5%) and often continues into adolescence and adulthood. It is more common in boys as compared to girls, the ratio being approximately 3:1.
Children suffering from ADHD act without thinking, are hyperactive and have trouble focusing on anything in particular. Their attention easily gets deviated and in spite of understanding what is expected from them, they are unable to focus on a particular thing. Such behavior is common amongst normal children also but the difference is that children with ADHD have these features persisting for long and they impair a child’s ability to function socially, academically, and at home.
Short-term memory loss is one of the symptoms of ADHD. An estimated half of the children outgrow hyperactive behavior when they grow into adulthood. However, almost half of the ADHD children continue exhibiting the symptoms throughout life.
Causes of ADHD:
ADHD has causes that have not been fully understood as yet and researchers are still exploring genetic linkage. It has been seen in many cases that children with ADHD often have some family member suffering from this disorder. Certain areas of the brain have been found to be comparatively smaller in children with ADHD as well some chemical changes in the brain have been detected.
Some other risk factors for developing ADHD include:
Premature delivery, very low birth weight, birth injury (to the brain) and smoking during pregnancy.
ADHD in adults
It is not that only kids can have ADHD. Adults, too, can continue showing ADHD traits started in childhood. However, one cannot have ADHD starting from adulthood. Some of the signs and symptoms of ADHD in adults are as under:
- Hyperactivity at workplace
- An inability to get organized at work. Careless, untidy, etc.
- The temptation to keep changing work, job, business, etc. Inability to pay attention to one work, task or project for adequate time
- Fast or rash driving. Ignoring and breaking signals
- Broken relationships with parents, friends, spouse, and neighbors.