ADHD Symptoms, Causes and Treatments - Part One

I have a friend who is 42 and has lived with with extreme ADHD all those years. She has an incredibly hard time sitting still, or staying on one topic for more than a minute.

My niece also has ADHD, much less than my friend but it still affects her life. Now that she is in adolescence the ADHD is causing her to be extremely emotional. She will start crying and lose control of her emotions for no apparent reason. All her mom can do is sit with her in a quiet room and wait for the episode to end. It could be a few minutes, or a few hours. Her family feels so helpless.

What is ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a condition that is usually characterized by lack of ability to focus, impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity. Those who suffer from this condition have an over stimulated brain that changes directions quickly and without discipline.

There are three major symptoms of ADHD:

1. Inattentiveness. A child with ADHD cannot determine what is important and what is not. They are easily distracted by sounds, activities, and even smells around him. They cannot determine what to focus attention on because they lack the skill to prioritize.

2. Impulsive behavior. A child with ADHD acts first and then thinks. He does not take the time beforehand to consider whether there might be consequences to his action. As a parent, you may be constantly having to make sure your child is safe and not heading for the busy street. They just do not recognize the danger of the fast moving cars. It can be very exhausting to try to anticipate where their next turn might take them. The child will probably spend more than their fair share of time in the emergency room or doctor’s office getting patched up.

3. Hyperactivity. A child with ADHD is constantly fidgeting, tapping his feet, popping his knuckles, or tapping his fingers on the table. They just cannot be still, even for a very short time. Sometimes you will notice a constant lip or tongue movement.

If your child has the first two symptoms of inattentiveness and impulsive behavior, but not hyperactivity, he may suffer from ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder.

School is usually very difficult for children with either of these disorders. The demands on concentration and for staying quiet are so much greater in the classroom setting. Because such children find it difficult to stay focused on anything for very long, the alternative is to be disruptive, and overly active.

For some, the disorder is so severe that it interferes with their being able to keep up normal learning. This calls for more parental involvement and understanding.

WHAT CAUSES ADHD?

Many things have been linked with ADHD as a contributing factor at some point including artificial lighting and lead poisoning. It is now believed that there are disturbances in some brain functions that may be a factor. It is believed that there is involvement with the chemical dopamine and its regulation in the brain.

It has been discovered that adults with ADHD metabolized glucose more slowly in the areas of the brain that controls movement and attention. The disorder has also been linked with the use of alcohol or drugs by the mother during her pregnancy. Her diet during pregnancy could also be a factor.

My friend with extreme ADHD probably got it from her mother who was a drug addict, who smoked, and who drank alcohol while pregnant. The mother made it worse by not doing anything to help my friend, but instead would get angry and abusive when my friend misbehaved as a youngster.

EVALUATION AND INTERVENTION

Typically these children are bright, creative and keenly sensitive. It is important to realize that they are healthy children with extraordinary needs, requiring a special level of understanding. Here are some suggestions parents of such children have found successful.

First, it is necessary to recognize the situations and the stimuli that upset the child. It is essential to observe the signals in the child that precede the emotional confrontations and to intervene as soon as possible.

One of the first things you will notice is a change in facial expression. It usually reflects a rising level of frustration due to the inability to deal with the situation at hand.

Give kind verbal reminders that the child needs to control himself, or if necessary, remove him from the situation altogether. Time-outs have been proven effective, not as a form of discipline, but a cooling off period for both the parent and the child so they can proceed rationally.

A parent may find themselves feeling resentful at the behavior of the child, taking it personally. It is essential to realize that when these children reach their stress tolerance level, they lose all sense of reasoning and comprehension. Sometimes you just need to back off to give yourself time to gain control of your own emotions.

IT’S NOT JUST A KIDS DISORDER

Parents of children who have been diagnosed with ADHD are beginning to realize that they had the same symptoms as a child but there was no “label” for it when they were growing up. Unfortunately, children with ADHD often grow up to be the adults that are always in trouble with the police, always getting into fights, or can’t keep a job.

If one who suffers from the disorder marries, it can put a lot of strain on the marriage. They usually are not very good listeners and do not communicate well with others. I have noticed this in people who were diagnosed with ADHD, even those who are borderline.

Having a child with ADHD can put a strain on a marriage as well. There is the tendency for parents to blame each other for the problem.

They may be quicker to react to the bad the child has done than the good. This leads to even more negative behavior.

Thus the family, and anyone else who interacts with the child, become locked into a power struggle as a result of not understanding or not knowing how to manage the behavior of a difficult child, whether it be a child with ADHD, ADD, or just one wanting attention.

ADHD treatments will be covered in the next post, part two. Don’t miss it, as it covers some very important ways to control ADHD, as well as a video by a professional.