What Is It Like To Have ADHD?

ADD or (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD or (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder) are disorders that affect neurological development in humans. Both impair the behavioral responses of an individual. What is it like to have ADHD?

ADD Is an all encompassing term that is used to refer to three kinds of disorders with similar characteristics. These are ADD inattentive type, ADD hyperactive/Inattentive type and ADD that combines the first two types together, which is commonly referred to as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). It is thought to be genetically and environmentally linked. It is frequently diagnosed in children but can also exist into or develop in adulthood. Adults may be unable to complete normal daily activities and obligations like work and family commitments.

Symptoms of ADD and ADHD are basically behavioral and can include any of the following depending on the patient, inattention, and/or hyperactivity, forgetfulness, poor impulse control or impulsivity, and distractibility. Many children that are affected usually have problems at school and at home. They will not do their homework, not get along with other children, and be aggressive and very difficult for their teachers. Few will finish high school and even fewer will finish college. Without proper diagnosis and the right help these disorder can have major implications for the lives of these children. Those of you in the teaching profession will identify with this very well I imagine.

Diagnosis is carried through behavior observation and through behavioral tests because there are no clinical tests to diagnose them. In certain people the intensity if the disorder is not that high as to affect their quality of life but in some it can be a real problem leading a total disruption of normal existence.

No real and fast causes of ADD and ADHD have been found although it is believed to be hereditary. Preservatives and food colorings have been suspected to play a part and it has been observed that suffers improved when this were eliminated form the menu. Otherwise no real etiological map has been developed for it.

Treatment has in general been stimulant prescribed medicine. They also have been combined with diet, lifestyles and behavioral changes. However as some of you will know prescribed medicine comes with undesirable side-effects. These drugs have the same effects as other psychiatric drugs. It is advisable to use alternative medicine especially as it has been shown to be as effective as prescribed medicine. They have virtually no side effects, have no fillers or preservatives and so do not create extra problems for the users.