What is the DSM

Many parents may suspect that their child has ADHD. This concern is not that uncommon. In fact, statistics have indicated that at least one child in every American classroom has ADHD. However, parents should realize that there are other factors that can contribute to ADHD symptoms. First, there are other neurological disorders that can closely mimic the symptoms of ADHD. Secondly, learning disabilities and other issues can cause symptoms that are similar to ADHD symptoms.

Doctors use specific criteria for determining if ADHD is present in a child. The criteria are found in what is known as the DSM-IV. This book is full of different medical conditions along with their symptoms. Generally, this requires the parent and teacher to complete a checklist for the physician. They may also want you to comply with certain procedures or testing to determine if ADHD is truly the problem present in your child.

Understanding Different Types of ADHD

An ADHD diagnosis actually encompasses three basic types of ADHD; inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and combination. To qualify for an ADHD diagnosis, a child must fall into at least one of the first two categories. There are different criteria for each category.

In the inattentive criteria, a child must display at least six different inattentive symptoms for at least six months. The symptoms must interfere with the child’s life or be inconsistent with that of normal development. The following criteria are found under the inattentive section of the DSM-IV:

• Failure to provide close attention to detail to tasks or makes careless mistakes in work, school work, or other important activities.
• Displays difficulty in sustaining attention in play and/or other activities.
• Seems to not listen, even when spoken to directly.
• Frequently fails to follow through with instructions, complete school work, chores, or tasks within the work place. (These issues should not be related to oppositional behavior or inability to understand the instructions given.)
• Frequently experiences difficulty in organizing tasks or activities
• My dislike or try to avoid certain tasks that are difficult to follow through with.
• Easily distracted by excessive surrounding stimulation.
• Often forgets.

Criteria for hyperactivity-impulsive ADHD are as follows:

• Fidgets, experiences difficulty sitting still.
• Frequently leaves seat during class or other activities that require extended seated time.
• Runs, climbs, jumps in times or situations that are not appropriate. Adolescents may simply feel restless.
• Experiences difficulty in being quiet during play or other activities.
• Seems to always be “on the go.”
• Excessive talking.
• Blurts out answers before hearing the entire question.
• Interrupts or intrudes on others.
• Experiences difficulty in waiting for their turn.

Children can also display symptoms from both categories. However, there must be at least six of the criteria met from one of the categories.
In addition to the above criteria, there are other criteria that must be present in a child before diagnosis can take place. These are also outlined by the DSM-IV in Sections B-E. These include:

• Impairment from the symptoms should be present in two or more locations. This means that the child should display the symptoms at school and at home, not just one or the other.
• The symptoms must actually interfere with the child’s ability to perform in these settings.
• The symptoms should not be present only during the evaluation of other possible disorders like schizophrenia, mood disorder, or personality disorder.

It should also be known that, while diagnosis cannot be determined before the age of 7, some of the symptoms may be displayed before the age of 7. Some parents even claim that they recognized symptoms as early as 2. However, because of the active nature of young children and shorter attention spans, diagnosis will not take place at this time.

For proper diagnosis, symptoms must be present for at least six months during the time of evaluation. The category that is met will determine the type of ADHD that is present in the child. According to the DSM-IV, if both the hyperactivity and inattentive criteria are met, then the diagnosis should be for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Combined Type. If only the inattentive criteria are met, the diagnosis will fall under Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominantly Inattentive. If only the hyperactivity criteria are met, the diagnosis will be classified as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominantly Hyperactive. There is also a fourth classification that is rarely diagnosed. However, it is in place for certain situations. This category is for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.

It is important to remember that only a doctor can properly diagnose ADHD. Even if you suspect and are certain that your child has this condition, you need to address it with your child’s pediatrician. This will ensure that a proper diagnosis takes place. It will also help you get proper treatment for your child, helping them to succeed in their future.

What is the Difference Between ADD and ADHD

ADHD is one of the most common neurological disorders diagnosed in children today. However, many people are wondering what happened to the original ADD diagnosis. Some people are feeling a little confused when it comes to the differences to ADD and ADHD. This can be especially true for parents who have children with the disorder.

Understanding your child’s disorder can be important for learning how to parent your child. It can help you understand their treatment and how to approach different situations that your child may face, not just today, but also in their future. This can make all the difference in helping your child succeed in their adult life.

Adults can also suffer from the disorder. For them, understanding their disorder can help them understand their treatment options and their limitations in life. While this type of a diagnosis can sometimes lead adults to feeling embarrassed or strange, it really is a common condition that adults deal with.

Attention disorders did not start gaining attention until almost the 1980s. This led to many children who had the disorder but had no knowledge of it. They just knew that they were different. Therefore, it is quite possible that many more adults suffer with the condition than it is realized. This is because attention disorders exist for life.

Understanding your diagnosis, your symptoms, and your treatment options can help. However, before you can truly understand your diagnosis, we must delve a little into the history of ADD and ADHD. We will also explore ADD and what happened to the original diagnosis.

Early Diagnosis

Initially, there was just one classification for attention disorders; ADD or attention deficit disorder. This was used to describe both children and adults that experienced difficulty concentrating, staying still, or focusing. This condition was entered into the Diagnostics Statistics Manual in 1980.

It was found, however, that this diagnosis did not truly encompass or classify many individuals, particularly children that were diagnosed with ADD. This led to a revised diagnosis of ADD. The new diagnosis was ADHD with three different sub-sects – ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Type, ADHD Predominately Hyperactive-Impulsive Type, and ADHD Combined Type.

ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Type

ADD, or simple attention deficit disorder, no longer truly exists. For those suffering from only inattentiveness are now classified as ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Type.  So, essentially, there is no difference between ADD and ADHD. It is simply a classification of ADHD now.

Individuals with ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Type will generally experience symptoms that relate to inattentiveness. Hyperactivity is generally not displayed. This is more common for adults and girls. However, boys can also be classified under this ADHD classification. Inattentive symptoms can include:

• Difficulty following instructions
• Short-term forgetfulness
• Often makes careless mistakes
• Disorganized
• Frequently loses things
• Gets distracted easily
• Seems to have trouble listening
• Avoids tasks that require focus or an extended amount of time
• Difficulty in sustaining attention on something

ADHD Predominately Hyperactive-Impulsive Type

In ADHD Predominately Hyperactive-Impulse Type, hyperactivity will be the stronger symptoms. Boys are most commonly diagnosed with this type of ADHD. However, girls and adults can deal with this type of ADHD as well. Those that suffer from ADHD Predominately Hyperactive-Impulse Type may display symptoms that include:

• Frequently interrupts the conversations and activities of others but doesn’t notice it.
• Talks a lot
• Extremely impatient
• Seems to always be “on the go.”
• Fidgets or has difficulty in sitting still.
• Often has a difficult time performing tasks quietly.
• Runs, climbs, jumps, or moves from seat frequently
• Experiences difficulty in waiting for turn.

ADHD Combined Type

For children and individuals that have ADHD combined type, they are likely to display many of the symptoms in both ADHD Predominately Inattentiveness Type and ADHD Predominately Hyperactivity-Impulsive Type. This type of diagnosis is more frequent in children than adults. However, adults can experience this ADHD classification as well.

Why Are Classifications Important?

For some, the different classifications may seem to make ADHD more complicated. However, there is reasoning behind these different classifications. Properly classifying the sect of ADHD that you or your child suffers with can help to determine proper treatment options.

Individuals with ADHD Predominately Inattentive Type are unlikely to need the same types of medication or treatment as those with ADHD Predominately Hyperactive-Impulsive Type. This can be especially true when it comes to medication.

Medication for those with ADHD Predominately Hyperactive-Impulsive Type will need medication to help them slow down. However, those that suffer from ADHD Predominately Inattentive Type will simply need medication to help them focus on the task at hand. This difference in medication can mean the difference between effective or ineffective treatment results. This is exactly why proper treatment and diagnosis should only be determined by a physician.

What is Inattentive ADHD and How is it Different

ADHD may be the most diagnosed neurological disorder in children today but it is highly misunderstood. This can mean big problems for parents and the children affected. It is important to understand this disorder, at least as much as it can be. This can help you understand your child, their limitations, their abilities, and their strengths and weaknesses in learning and in life. This can help you help your child succeed.

ADHD actually has three different categories: ADHD Predominantly Hyperactive, ADHD Predominantly Inattentive and ADHD Combined Type. ADHD Combined Type and Hyperactive are very common amongst young children and definitely account for the majority of ADHD cases. However, the third classification, ADHD Predominantly Inattentive is more frequent in girls. In fact, girls are much more likely to be diagnosed with this type of ADHD, if any at all.

Because of the way ADHD Predominantly Inattentive displays itself, children with this classification are often skipped when it comes to ADHD screening. They are often thought of as lazy or daydreamers. They may even seem rather easy to get along with because of the lack of the impulsive part of ADHD. However, Inattentive ADHD can cause just as many problems as Hyperactive ADHD, especially if it goes undiagnosed.

Symptoms You Should Be Aware Of

To be diagnosed, you should notice at least six of the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder, Predominantly Inattentive symptoms in your child for at least six months. These symptoms should take place in at least two different settings. For example, your child should display these symptoms at home and at school or daycare. Your child must be at least 7 years of age before a proper diagnosis can take place. You should also be aware that these symptoms can be seen in both girls and boys but are more common in girls.
Symptoms for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder, Predominantly Inattentive, according to the DSM-IV are:

• Often forgetful, even in daily routines.
• Distracted easily by noises and activity surrounding them.
• Dislikes and even avoids activities that require a great deal of concentration or time. This can include chores, school work, homework, even fun activities like board games.
• Doesn’t seem to listen, even when being directly spoken to.
• Often makes careless mistakes or pays little attention to detail.
• Frequently loses important items.
• Experiences difficulty in organizing things, tasks, and school work.
• Often struggles at following through with instructions.
• Seems to experience difficulty at sustaining attention, particularly for things that require a great deal of concentration.

Children who have ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive might seem like they are often daydreaming. You are likely to think that they are just disobeying the rules when you ask them to complete certain tasks. You may think that they don’t understand their homework or school work or you may perceive that they are lazy. They may draw instead of focusing on school work. They may even talk.

Unlike ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactivity, you are unlikely to experience the “on the go” symptoms that some children display. The lack of this symptom can cause parents to think that their child does not have ADHD. However, cases like this are extremely common in young girls and can be displayed in boys.

Why is Treatment and Diagnosis Important?

It may seem like, since your child does not have the hyperactivity or impulsive behavior, that treatment is not a big deal. However, it is just as important in Inattentive ADHD as it is in Hyperactive or Impulsive ADHD.
Concentration is required for school and, later in life, work. Relationships are built around the ability to listen to others. Your child may feel like they are “dumb,” “not smart,” or “stupid.” It is very possible that your child wonders what is wrong with them and may even have low self-esteem because of their low grades.

Getting a diagnosis and treatment for your child may not cure their ADHD. However, it will help you and your child learn about their disorder. Certain medications can help them focus better. With a little hard work, they can catch up on their school work and start making better grades. They can also start building healthy peer relationships once they start feeling better about their self. This can be extremely important to their social and professional future.

ADHD does not just go away. It is something that your child will have to deal with for their entire lives. Wouldn’t you rather your child learn how to cope with it at a time in their life when they have support and guidance from you? Learning the skills they need to function with their disorder can help them tremendously in their future. If you suspect that your child might have Inattentive ADHD, talk to your doctor and find out the truth.

Understanding the Symptoms and Definition of ADHD

ADHD is currently one of the most common neurological behavior disorders diagnosed today. It is even estimated that, out of a class of 30 children, between 1 and 3 of them will have ADHD. With these numbers, it is common for parents to question whether or not their children have ADHD, especially when their child starts to display possible symptoms.

It is important to remember that, while a checklist can help you determine whether or not your child needs further evaluation, only a physician can actually diagnose your child with ADHD. Symptoms of ADHD can often be mimicked by other disorders. In some children, a different form of discipline can change concerning behaviors. However, for children with ADHD, medical treatment is the best option.

The Definition of ADHD

ADHD, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a chronic condition. This means that it will not simply go away. In fact, for many children that have ADHD, the condition can carry on into adulthood. ADHD can be displayed through any combination of problems that includes hyperactivity, inability to sustain attention, and/or impulsive behavior. Because of their inability to maintain behavior, particularly in a school setting, children with ADHD can often experience trouble in peer relationships and display poor performance in school. This can sometimes lead to poor self-esteem that is not directly related to ADHD.

There is no cure for ADHD. Treatment, however, can help to control the symptoms often experienced with the condition. Treatment can include medication, behavioral intervention, or a combination of the two. Treatment can often help children learn how to cope with and control their condition. This can help them be more successful in their adult life.

In the past, ADHD was simply diagnosed as ADD or attention deficit disorder. However, further evaluation of the condition revealed that attention issues were not enough to describe the condition. Many children displayed impulsive and hyperactive behaviors that were not indicated in the previous diagnosis. This was the reason for adding the hyperactivity component of the disorder.

For a proper diagnosis of ADHD, doctors suggest that children be at least age 7. However, children can often display symptoms much sooner. In some cases, parents have noted an indication of symptoms as early as age 2. Unfortunately, proper diagnosis cannot take place at this time because of the activity of young children paired with the lack of communication skills.

Symptoms of ADHD

There are two different categories of symptoms for ADHD; inattention and hyperactivity. Children can display any number of these symptoms in any combination. However, symptoms from each category must be indicated to receive an ADHD diagnosis. Some behaviors, while they are found within ADHD, can actually be related to other issues. Your doctor is the best person to counsel you on the symptoms and behaviors displayed in your child.

Inattention symptoms can include:

• Difficulty in sustaining attention during play or specified tasks. This applies to even tasks that are enjoyed by the child.
• Child seems to have a difficult time listening, even if they are being directly spoken to.
• Child may avoid or display dislike for tasks that require extended mental effort.
• Child may often be forgetful
• Child may frequently lose important items including toys, books, pencils, and school papers.
• Child may have difficulty following through with tasks or instructions and often fails to complete tasks requested of the child like chores or schoolwork.
• Child can have difficulty organizing their tasks, personal items, or other activities.
• Child is often easily distracted.
• Hyperactive or impulsive behavior can include:
• Fidgeting or squirming
• Seeming to always be “on the go.”
• Frequently interrupts conversations.
• May disrupt the games of others
• May have difficulty waiting for turn.
• Blurts out answers to questions in class or impulsively talks during class
• Runs, climbs, jumps, or moves when not appropriate.
• In adolescents, may complain of restlessness.

While there are many exceptions, boys often display more hyperactivity than girls. Girls are more prone to inattentiveness that is not noticed. In girls, parents often indicate that they are “daydreaming” or “seem to be in their own world.” This can often lead to a lack of diagnosis in girls.

ADHD or Normal Behavior?

Not all children who are inattentive or hyperactive have ADHD. In fact, many healthy children can often display symptoms of ADHD. This can be especially true of younger children. However, it is important to realize that younger children have a shorter attention span, particularly in tasks that do not sustain their interest. If you suspect that your child has ADHD, consider these questions:

• Has your child displayed these behaviors for more than six months?
• Does the behavior occur in more than one setting? (school, home, grocery store, etc.)
• Does the behavior frequently interfere with relationships, school, or home life?

If you can answer yes to all three of these questions, it may be a good idea to have your child evaluated for ADHD. Just remember, only a physician can provide an accurate diagnosis.

Understanding ADHD Inattentive Type

Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder, one of the most commonly diagnosed issues in children today, is extremely misunderstood still today. This means that many children who may be suffering from a disorder are being left in the dark, waiting for someone to notice that they have a problem that they cannot do anything about. This issue is most common in children with

ADHD Inattentive Type.

Unlike ADHD Hyperactive Type, children with ADHD Inattentive Type rarely display hyperactive, unruly, or disruptive behavior. Instead, they are often thought of as “lazy” or said to “not try hard enough.” They are often disorganized, have a hard time listening, and rarely complete difficult tasks that require a great deal of concentration. These children are extremely misunderstood and many slip through the cracks and never receive a diagnosis.

Unfortunately, this can create problems later in life for the child. Since there is no cure for ADHD, children who have ADHD grow up to be adults who have ADHD. While adults can sometimes hide their disorder easier because they have learned coping skills and hiding mechanisms, they will always feel different and are likely to experience some serious issues during adulthood.

ADHD in adults can cause careless mistakes on the job, particularly if the project or task requires a great deal of concentration. This may add to the difficulty in holding down a job that many ADHD adults deal with. They may be perceived as rude by their co-workers or friends because they are unable to effectively listen during a conversation. They may be procrastinators and frequently put off important appointments. They may even forget about these appointments or obligations. They may be disorganized and may frequently misplace important items. All of these issues can hinder their day to day life.

The Importance of Understanding ADHD Inattentive Type

If you have a child that frequently seems to blow off chores or schoolwork, seems to daydream frequently, even when being spoken to directly, often loses important items, or makes frequent mistakes, especially with tasks that require concentration, you should consider looking deeper into your child’s issues.

While these problems can be created from other incidents in their lives, there is a chance that your child may have ADHD Inattentive Type. Getting a proper diagnosis can help you understand your child and their limitations. It can also help you learn how to help your child. This can help your child succeed later in life.

Treatment Options

For children with ADHD Inattentive Type, certain types of medication may be able to help increase their ability to concentrate. This can help decrease many of the other symptoms you are seeing in your child. However, you should be aware that you should also focus on other treatment methods to help your child be more successful in their future.

Some parents claim that certain foods can trigger or worsen ADHD symptoms. While there is no hard evidence to support their theories, there are ADHD diets that your child can try to see if foods might have an impact on the severity of their symptoms.

Exercise is also important for your child. Because ADHD sufferers have been shown to have lower levels of dopamine, an important chemical in the brain, increasing the dopamine production can help reduce symptoms. This is how certain medications help. However, this same chemical is produced during physical exertion. By getting your child involved in sports or other physical activity, you can help them naturally decrease symptoms they may be experiencing.

Another important part of treatment is counseling. For some children, this can be extremely helpful in learning how to cope with their disorder. There is, however, another purpose to counseling for ADHD Inattentive Type children. Children with ADHD Inattentive Type have likely faced stereotypes and been called names like “lazy,” “slacker,” “underachiever,” and “daydreamer.” This can create slow self-esteem for your child. Counseling can help your child feel better about who they are and about their future.

Other Ways to Help Your Child

Some parents have found that, because their child is disorganized, developing a schedule can help. Teaching a child how to use a calendar or organizer can help them learn how to keep to a schedule. For many ADHD adults, using these can be very difficult if it was not introduced early in life.

Helping your child create a special place for specific items can also teach them how to keep track of their things. Avoid taking responsibility for your child’s items but help them in remembering that they need to put them in the proper place so they can find them later. Limiting certain activities can also help your child stay focused. In most cases, television, video games, and computer games can be too much of a distraction, particularly during the week when homework needs to be done.

For individuals diagnosed with ADHD, treatment is important. It can help with functioning in day to day life. It can help to increase concentration and reduce restlessness. This can be important for both children and adults. However, not every medication works the same for every person. This is why different ADHD medications exist.

Vivance, otherwise known as Vyvance, is one of the many ADHD medications available. It is an amphetamine that stimulates chemicals in the brain to function properly. It is unclear, however, the exact way this works. It can be used to treat ADHD sufferers ages 6 and up.

It is important to realize that Vivance should be used in conjunction with other types of treatment. These treatments can include counseling or other therapies. Pairing the medication with other types of therapy can help possibly decrease the need for the medication and make the use of the medication more effective. Talking to your doctor about your symptoms and struggles with ADHD can help the two of you come up with a complete and comprehensive plan.

Taking Vivance

Vivance is taken only once a day, unlike other stimulants. This can make taking Vivance easier for certain patients that lead busy lifestyles and don’t have the time to think about taking a pill several times a day. However, there are some cases in which Vivance is not the best medication option.

Because Vivance is a stimulant, patients who have heart conditions, high blood pressure, or a family history of heart conditions, you should talk to your doctor. Additionally, children and adults that have either a personal or family history of mental disorders like bipolar, suicide, or depression should also talk to their doctor about whether using Vivance is the best option.

Important Safety Information

You should also know that Vivance is a controlled substance. Because it contains amphetamines, it is highly addictive. This can create possible drug abuse in both patients that it is prescribed to as well as anyone else who takes it that it is not prescribed to. Vivance should never be given to anyone that it is not prescribed to and you should always follow the instructions carefully to reduce the chances of addition and abuse. Abuse of Vivance can also lead to sudden death and serious heart problems. Selling or distributing Vivance to anyone is illegal and punishable by law.

How Vivance Can Help Adults

For adults, ADHD can be just as frustrating as it is for children. Sometimes, it can even be embarrassing. As adults, we assume that ADHD is a child’s disorder. However, since there is no cure for ADHD, the condition continues on into adulthood. Sadly, however, you cannot always make this clear to employers. This is where Vivance can help. With Vivance, many adults have experienced improved attention span, less hyperactivity, and fewer impulsive tendencies. This allows you to focus on your life, not on your condition.

How Vivance Can Help Children

Childhood is an important time in our lives. It is when we learn how to behave in socially acceptable ways. It is when we learn the important academic foundation for our future. It is when we learn how to develop healthy and meaningful relationships. For children with ADHD, this can be extremely difficult.

Vyvance can help children focus when it is important. It can help them pay attention in class and learn how to build healthy relationships with their peers. This can help improve their self-esteem and help them raise their grades, giving them a better chance in their future.

Vivance Side-Effects

Like all medications, there are some side-effects that may be involved with Vivance. The most common side-effects include nausea, upper abdominal pain, dry mouth, irritability, vomiting, weight loss, decreased appetite, dizziness, and trouble sleeping. These side effects are generally mild and are rarely dangerous.

There are, however, some serious side-effects that can take place. Seizures, mostly in patients who have had a history of seizures may occur. Blurred vision and changes in eyesight can happen while using Vivance.

Motion or verbal tics may also occur. For patients who already have tics or have been diagnosed with Tourette’s, tics may worsen or increase. Children may experience a slowing of growth. Your doctor should check your child’s height and weight regularly to monitor this potential problem. You should talk to your doctor if you think any of these problems are dangerous.

The real question is whether or not Vivance is right for you or your child. This is something that you should discuss with your doctor. Discuss any other type of treatment that may be needed in conjunction with your medication. Talk to your doctor about any potential risks you may have or that may be in your family history. Watch for signs of danger in either you or your child.

Learn the Truth About ADHD and Diet

ADHD, otherwise known as Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder, can create several problems for those diagnosed. Difficulty focusing on specific tasks, particularly those that require concentration, disorganization, difficulty in paying attention to conversations and tasks at hand, and restlessness are just a few of the symptoms that individuals with ADHD experience.

The disorder can affect children, adolescents, and adults. There is no cure, so if a child is diagnosed with ADHD, the likelihood is that the disorder will carry on into adulthood. This can make focusing on the job and in relationships difficult during adulthood. Generally, ADHD is treated with medication and other types of therapy. However, many individuals wonder if the right diet could alleviate the symptoms often experienced with ADHD.

While the thought is not too far off, the research on ADHD diets is very limited and rather contradictory. Essentially, while an ADHD diet will not harm anyone who is on it, it may or may not help with symptoms of ADHD. However, experts believe that diet does play a role in alleviating symptoms associated with ADHD. The decision to go on an ADHD diet is something that only the individual can make with the help of their physician. Results are not guaranteed and any results experienced may also fluctuate from one person to the next.

What Does an ADHD Diet Mean?

Essentially, an ADHD diet should help the brain function better and help increase the functionality of certain chemicals in the brain that create the symptoms experienced with ADHD. These symptoms should lessen or be less severe when the diet is adhered to.

There are three basic types of ADHD diets. Individuals can implement parts of each one, use them all, or just stick with one type of diet to see which works best. This can vary, depending on the individual.

First, overall nutrition is important, not just for those that have ADHD but for everyone. Overall nutrition is the food that you eat every day. It is the foods that can make ADHD better or worse. Second, there are supplementation diets for ADHD. These diets assume that, by adding certain nutrients to the body, the brain will function differently. This assumes that the symptoms are created by nutrients that are lacking within the body. Lastly, there are elimination diets for ADHD. These diets would involve the removal of certain foods that may worsen the symptoms experienced with ADHD.

Using an Overall Nutrition Diet for ADHD

According to experts, having a healthy overall diet may help increase brain function. This diet includes eating a high protein diet, reducing or limiting simple carbohydrates like sugar and sweets, eating more complex carbohydrates, particularly fruits and vegetables, and increasing omega-3 fatty acids.

A high protein diet requires you to still watch for fat. This is important to future health and can help prevent heart disease. A high protein diet should be full of beans, nuts, sprouts, tofu, soy products, and can include a limited amount of cheese, eggs, and meat. It is said that a high protein diet may help to increase the efficacy of ADHD medication and proteins should be consumed early in the day and in the early afternoon for a snack.

Simple carbohydrates can include more than just sugar. Other products to avoid include white flour, potatoes, honey, and white rice. These foods may cause an increased hyperactivity in individuals with ADHD.

Complex carbohydrates are often missing from the average American diet and are extremely important. While whole grain products are considered complex carbohydrates, the majority of carbs should come from vegetables and a moderate amount of fruit. If consumed right before bed, they could help reduce restlessness at night and promote healthy sleep.

Omega-3 fatty acids are extremely good for the brain. This can be taken as either a supplement or achieved through natural food sources like tuna, salmon, olive oil, canola oil, or Brazilian nuts.

ADHD Nutritional Supplements

According to some researchers, because the American diet is rarely what it should be, individuals should take a complete multivitamin every day. However, this ADHD diet should be used with caution and with the close advisement of your doctor. Since symptoms from one person to the next can vary greatly, so can results. Additionally, for adults, certain health conditions can make taking nutritional supplements dangerous.

Elimination Diets for ADHD

Elimination diets require you to be sensitive to your body. You have to learn how to recognize the severity of your symptoms and determine if a particular food could be contributing to your symptoms. To use an elimination diet, you have to first determine a food that you believe might be causing or adding to your symptoms. This assumption can be made because of how you feel after you eat a particular food. Once you have identified the food, you need to eliminate the substance from your diet completely. You then need to observe how you feel over the next few weeks. If you notice that your symptoms have lessened in severity, you have probably identified a food that you need to avoid.

Important ADHD Statistics You Should Know

For parents, suspicion or diagnosis of ADHD can be devastating and even scary. What does it mean for their child? What is treatment entail? Why their child? Is their child normal? These questions are normal and so are the fears that are often associated with the possibility of ADHD.

Many of these fears can be eased by learning about the ADHD statistics. Some of the statistics will help you better understand your child’s condition. They can help you understand just how common ADHD is in children. It can also make you aware of other concerns that you should know about ahead of time. This can help you create a plan of action to avoid certain issues that often arise in individuals with ADHD.

How Common is ADHD?

ADHD is currently one of the most diagnosed neurological disorders in children today. It is estimated by the American Psychiatric Association that somewhere between 3% and 7% of school-aged children have ADHD. However, according to parent surveys, the statistics are higher.

Community surveys from parents indicate that, as of 2007, approximately 9.5% of all school age children have been diagnosed with ADHD. This equates to 5.4 million children. Obviously, the number of diagnosed children has likely increased since this survey.

The numbers may not seem that alarming to some parents. However, when you put these numbers into perspective, it essentially equates to at least one child in every classroom in America that has ADHD. Now, the numbers seem much more alarming. However, these numbers do not mean that the child or the country is without hope.

It would also seem that boys are more prone to ADHD than girls. According to parent surveys, boys were much more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls. Boys, on their own, have a 13.2% chance of being diagnosed with ADHD than girls who have only a 5.6% chance of being diagnosed. However, the lower ADHD numbers for girls may not be indicative to the number of girls that actually have ADHD. This is only the statistic for girls that are diagnosed. Studies have shown that girls are more prone to inattentiveness than hyperactivity, making diagnosis less likely in girls.

State diagnosis is varied dramatically. North Carolina topped at the highest number of children diagnosed with 15.6% of all children being diagnosed with ADHD. On the opposite end, Nevada had the lowest diagnosis rate with only 5.6% of all children in the state being diagnosed.

Medication and Treatment

While medication is the most common method for treating ADHD, there are some parents that choose to attempt natural, homeopathic, or diet changes to treat the symptoms displayed in their ADHD child. According to statistics, this accounted for 44.7% of all diagnosed cases, just under half. However, 66.3% of children diagnosed with ADHD are receiving treatment with medication. It was also found that boys were 2.8% more likely than boys to receive medication to treat their ADHD.

Medication treatment was also found to be highly variable according to state location. Arkansas reported the highest use of medication, with 6.5% of children diagnosed taking medication. California reported the lowest numbers with only 2.1% of all diagnosed children being treated with medication.

Do Children With ADHD Have a Learning Disability as Well?

One of the biggest concerns that parents express with ADHD diagnosis is the presence of a learning disability. This is a very valid concern since ADHD affects many of the aspects of learning like attention span, ability to listen to instructions, and following instructions.

The number of children who struggle with both ADHD and a learning disability can be a little alarming. Approximately 4% of all children who have ADHD also have a learning disability. However, there is substantial evidence that indicates that children with ADHD can learn when taught with multi-sensory methods, particularly those that involve activity.

ADHD and Friendships

Every parent wants their child to make and maintain friendships in their childhood years. This can be important for self-esteem and provide children with a playmate. However, parents are likely to find that a child with ADHD may struggle in building and maintaining peer relationships. According to parent surveys, children with ADHD are 3 times more likely to have problems in peer relationships and almost 10 times more likely to experience problems that interfere with the health of their friendships.

Children with ADHD can learn how to become full-functioning adults. While there may always be some differences in their ability to learn, listen, and maintain relationships, there are treatment options that can help. There are even parenting classes that can help you learn how to offer your child the best possible success for their future. Since children with ADHD learn differently, these classes can be invaluable to you and your child’s future.

Guanfacine and ADHD

Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder affects at least one in thirty students in America. Children diagnosed with this condition often experience symptoms that interfere with their ability to be successful in school and at home. Relationships are often lacking for these children because of their impulsive behavior. And, sadly, this can cause feelings of low self-worth and a sense of separation from those around them.

There is no cure for ADHD and children with ADHD will carry their condition on into adulthood. While adults do learn to cope with their disorder and can often cover it, symptoms are still present, particularly when certain situations are unavoidable, like loud or distracting places.

Treatment during both childhood and adulthood can help decrease ADHD symptoms. This can help increase social, academic, and employment functionality. With other treatment options like counseling, children who have ADHD can grow into successful adults that understand their condtion.

What is Guanfacine?

Guanfacine, also known as Tenex and Intuniv, is a norepinephrine receptor subtype. Its chemical make-up can help to improve attention problems in individuals with ADHD by modulating specific receptors in the brain. However, this is not the primary use of Guanfacine.

Originally, Guanfacine was manufactured and marketed as a cardiovascular drug that helped to lower cholesterol in patients that have hypertension. It has helped patients manage their high cholesterol in both short term and long term studies.

The lack of a stimulant quickly made Guanfacine a popular choice among some parents and individuals for the treatment of ADHD. Because stimulants are very addictive and can be easily abused, many parents and individuals are hesitant to use them for the treatment of ADHD, despite the fact that they are often safe and effective for ADHD sufferers.

Benefits to Using Guanfacine for ADHD

Guanfacine actually strengthens the prefrontal cortical network connections, which helps to regulate behavior and attention span. It can help patients sleep better at night, which is a common side-effect experienced with ADHD stimulant medications. In animal testing, Guanfacine seemed to decrease distractibility, improve response inhibition, improve working memory, and increase attention control. These benefits have also been observed in humans that have used the drug to treat ADHD. The drug has also been shown to work as an effective treatment for other psychiatric disorders, such as PTSD and anxiety.

Guanfacine Side Effects

Just like most drugs, there are some side-effects that can accompany ADHD treatment with Guanfacine. The most common symptoms experienced by those taking Guanfacine were drowsiness, gas pain, loss of appetite, dizziness, headache, depression, diarrhea, fatigue, and nasal congestion. These symptoms are often mild to moderate.

Rare side-effect can include more serious conditions like shortness of breath, chest pains, blurred vision, swelling in the hands or feet, skin rash, or yellowing of the skin or eyes. These conditions should be discussed immediately with your doctor if they occur.

Other side effects that can take place include tingling in the hands or feet, impotence, vision changes, ringing in the ears, mental and mood changes, dry mouth, decreased sexual desire, changes in taste, and leg cramps. Tachycardia or bradycardia can also occur in some patients, particularly those that have certain cardiovascular conditions. If any cardiovascular symptoms are experienced, it is important to talk to your doctor immediately.

When Guanfacine Isn’t Enough

In some cases, Guanfacine is not enough for proper treatment of ADHD. It must be paired with a stimulant to help increase the efficacy. It should also be noted that the medication should be paired with other forms of non-medication treatment. Counseling or similar types of treatment can help a child cope with their disorder and learn how to deal with their condition in the future.

Exercise can also help with ADHD treatment. In the brain of a person with ADHD, dopamine levels, a chemical in the brain, is lower than that of a person without ADHD. Exercise helps to increase this chemical, helping the individual naturally decrease their ADHD symptoms.

Diet may also play a role in ADHD treatment. In some studies, certain foods have shown that that they may help decrease or cause an increase in ADHD symptoms. If you think that diet could play a part in your ADHD treatment, discuss diet options with your physician.

Is Guanfacine the Right Choice?

Only your doctor can really decide which type of medication is right for you or your child. However, you need to be sure that you share your past medical history with your doctor. This can help your doctor choose the best treatment options and avoid any options that may be unsafe. In most cases, Guanfacine is much safer than other ADHD drugs, particularly stimulants. However, this is not always the case and your doctor can only make the right choice based upon the information you provide.

Causes of ADHD

Today, ADHD is one of the most commonly diagnosed neurological disorders in children. Actual diagnosis of the problem has only existed since the 1980s. Essentially, this has left much unknown when it comes to the disorder, especially in the way of causes of ADHD. However, as medicine continues to advance and studies continue to be performed on those with ADHD doctors are starting to understand the disorder a little more.

Since there is no known cure for ADHD, only treatment, people may wonder what the point in knowing the causes is. They may question if knowing the causes can really help with anything. This concern can be a little difficult to address at times. However, the truth is that, by understanding the causes of ADHD, doctors can work towards a cure. Additionally, knowing the causes can help the parents of children diagnosed with ADHD to know when their child might be at higher risk. This can lead to earlier detection and screening in children that might have gone undiagnosed throughout the childhood years. There are even possible causes of ADHD that parents, particularly future mothers, can avoid, decreasing the risk of their child developing ADHD. So, as you can see, there really is reasoning behind knowing the causes of ADHD, despite the fact that there is no cure at this time.

Genetic Tendency

At this time, it is not known exactly what causes ADHD. However, medical research has shown that there are inherited genetic factors that may be responsible for the presence of ADHD in most cases. Research is still focusing on identifying the actual genes that create the presence of ADHD. However, there have been no definitive answers at this time.

Researchers have discovered, however, that children with two or more close family members with ADHD are at a higher risk. If a child has one or more parents with ADHD, the child is at an even higher risk. The genetic tendency also seems to be very strong in male genes. More than one-third of the men diagnosed with ADHD have children who are also eventually diagnosed with the condition.

There are a number of cases in which there is no genetic tendency for ADHD. This has led researchers to search out other possible causes. Once again, there still are no definitive answers. However, researchers do know more now than they did when the condition was first discovered.

Other Possible Causes

While genetics are said to be the biggest contributing factor to ADHD, researchers have also singled out a few other possible causes. Studies have suggested that the use of cigarettes, alcohol, or other drugs could increase the risk for ADHD. All of these factors can be completely eliminated during pregnancy, therefore reducing the risk of ADHD. This can be especially important if the mother or father of the child already have a genetic tendency for ADHD.

Low birth weight babies may also be more susceptible to developing ADHD later in life. So may children that have experienced head injuries during childhood. Other studies have also indicated that exposure to lead in children could cause ADHD symptoms.

Lead, for the most part, has been eliminated from most paints and products. However, there are certain professions that may still work with lead. This lead can come home on clothing or skin. Be aware of the materials in your home and materials that you work with so that you can prevent this item in your home.

Items That Do Not Cause ADHD

Some parents worry that certain foods can cause ADHD in their children. However, there is no evidence indicating that this is true. Comprehensive studies have shown, however, that children who are diagnosed with ADHD can see a decline in symptoms through the use of a restrictive diet in about 5% of children. These studies are not conclusive, however. There are other studies that have not shown that there is any significant correlation between ADHD symptoms and food, dyes, or sugars.

How ADHD Affects the Brain

The way that the brain works has told researchers a lot about ADHD and its causes. Special imaging tests have been used to study the brain of those that have been diagnosed with ADHD. According to researchers, there may be a link between ADHD and the structure of the brain. Certain areas in the brain that are responsible for impulse control and attentiveness seem to develop differently in children with ADHD.

Additionally, the chemical in the brain, dopamine, seems to be lower in those diagnosed with ADHD. This chemical is responsible for carrying signals between the nerves and the brain.
This is the chemical that is thought to be stimulated through the use of stimulators, like Ritalin, for the treatment of ADHD. This is also the chemical that is stimulated in the brain during the use of cocaine and nicotine. It is thought that this may explain the greater risk of drug abuse that adult ADHD sufferers have.