Everybody knows what ADD is, right? Of course. You hear it all the time – how more and more kids today have ADD and that even adults have ADD. But do you know what ADHD is? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is basically ADD with a bit of hyperactivity thrown in.
What Are The Add Symptoms?
The symptoms aren’t typical symptoms in that they’re not really physical symptoms. Instead, doctors look for certain behaviors in a person. These behaviors include hyperactivity and inattentiveness that are displayed constantly over a long period of time, meaning they aren’t just the result of an off day. Hyperactivity is diagnosed when someone displays that they have a hard time sitting still – they fidget a lot, get up frequently for no reason, have difficulty engaging in quiet activities and they often talk a lot.
Inattention symptoms fit a much broader spectrum. People who have inattention symptoms have a hard time finishing things they start, like work projects or school assignments. They often procrastinate as well and are generally extremely disorganized. They are easily distracted by things like TV and will often stop an activity they’re performing to attend to things that don’t need it. They are also very forgetful especially about things like appointments. They even have a hard time having conversations because they are constantly shifting subjects and interrupting other people to blurt out their thoughts.
There are actually three different subtypes of ADHD. ADHD Combined Type is diagnosed with someone has both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms. ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Type is diagnosed when someone displays symptoms of inattention but not hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms. And ADHD Predominantly Hyperactivity/impulsivity Type is diagnosed when someone has hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms but not inattention symptoms.
How It ADHD Treated?
ADHD is usually treated with a combination of several things. The first thing is, of course, behavioral modification techniques.
These techniques are very extensive and are often catered to a specific person. Some people require more help keeping themselves organized so they learn how to properly organize things. Others have to practice having good conversations so they learn how to both listen to others when they talk and think before they themselves speak.
And if behavioral modification isn’t enough, there are many medications out there that can be prescribed for ADHD. Most of them act as downers; they calm a person down, allow their brain time to catch up and give them the chance to actually sit down and concentrate on something.
Although ADHD can be tough to deal with, with the right treatment it is perfectly manageable!
