ADHD is characterized by inattention and impulsive or hyperactive behavior. Symptoms usually start before the age of 12 and can continue into adulthood. ADHD is divided into three subtypes, 1) predominantly inattentive, 2) predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, and 3) combined hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive.
The term “ADD” has been used for the child who is primarily inattentive. He or she will fail to pay close attention to details, have trouble staying focused, have trouble following through on instructions, have problems with organizing, forget to do things, avoids tasks involving mental concentration and is easily distracted.
Hyperactivity symptoms include: fidgeting, problems staying seated in the classroom, being in constant motion, running or climbing in situations where it is not appropriate, talking too much, interrupting, and having difficulty waiting his or her turn. It is clear that these symptoms can be a matter of “just being a kid”, and determining that there is a problem is subjective and has to do with the severity of the symptoms. There is no specific test for ADHD, and many times diagnosis is based on questionnaires and interviews.
Medicine recognizes that genetics, environmental exposure (like lead) and developmental issues with the nervous system as possible causes of ADHD. They do not seem to recognize diet, and nutritional deficiencies have anything to do with ADHD, even though a number of studies support this. Many think that nutrition is the key to this problem–watch this video from the Appleton, Wisconsin schools.
Stimulant medications are often prescribed. Two kinds of drugs are commonly used, amphetamines and methylpehnidates. Amphetamines include dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), dextroamphetamine-amphetamine (Adderall) and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse). Methylphenidates include methylphenidate (Concerta), Metadate, Retalin) and dexmethyphenidate (Focalin).
