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ADD-ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a condition that can affect children and adults and characterized by becoming easily bored, constant fidgeting and daydreaming.
964 Questions
The answer is not entirely known, however ADHD is caused by underdevelopment within certain regions of the brain. ADHD may be entirely genetic, environmental, or a mixture of both. Research is being conducted to find the exact reason and cause for ADHD.
There is any Difference in sensory processing in autism and adhd?
The 3 actually go hand in hand. Kids with autism normally have ADHD AND SPD as well. There are many though, that have ADHD and SPD but not autism. There is however a difference.
ADHD is mainly hyperactivity, and a hard time focusing.
Autism is developmental disorder and certain criteria is used to diagnose it.
SPD is most commonly diagnosed by an Occupation Therapist. That is the one that is the most different of the disorders. A child with SPD can be a SEEKER, or an AVOIDER, or BOTH. My son is both. He seeks proprioceptive input a lot. (rough play, heavy lifting) He avoids Olfactory and auditory input (smell and hearing.)
There are some great books out there to help you learn more. The Autism/ADHD connection is a great book.
Aspergers Syndrome and Sensory Processing Disorder is an amazing book that really breaks down SPD for you.
Lastly, Autism for Dummies was like my bible when my son was first diagnosed!
What are some possible cures for ADHD?
There are no cures for ADHD.
Treatment
The American Academy of Pediatrics has guidelines for treating ADHD:
- Set specific, appropriate target goals to guide therapy.
- Medication and behavior therapy should be started.
- When treatment has not met the target goals, evaluate the original diagnosis, the possible presence of other conditions, and how well the treatment plan has been implemented.
- Systematic follow-up is important to regularly reassess target goals, results, and any side effects of medications. Information should be gathered from parents, teachers, and the child.
ADHD can be a frustrating problem. Alternative remedies have become quite popular, including herbs, supplements, and chiropractic manipulation. However, there is little or no solid evidence for many remedies marketed to parents.
Children who receive both behavioral treatment and medication often do the best. Medications should not be used just to make life easier for the parents or the school. There are now several different classes of ADHD medications that may be used alone or in combination. Psychostimulants are the primary drugs used to treat ADHD. Although these drugs stimulate the central nervous system, they have a calming effect on people with ADHD.
These drugs include:
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate, Daytrana)
- Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)
- Amphetamine-dextroamphetamine (Adderall)
- Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Dextrostat)
- Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)
The FDA has approved the nonstimulant drug atomoxetine (Strattera) for use in ADHD. Effectiveness appears to be similar to that of stimulants. Strattera is not addicting.
Some ADHD medicines have been linked to sudden death in children with heart problems. Talk to your doctor about which drug is best for your child.
The following may also help:
- Limit distractions in the child's environment.
- Provide one-on-one instruction with the teacher.
- Make sure the child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure the child gets a healthy, varied diet, with plenty of fiber and basic nutrients.
No, ADHD is not curable.
No.
Are there similarities between ADHD and exceptionally gifted students?
Yes there are! Plenty of similarities exist between ADHD and gifted people. In fact, some people believe that gifted people are actually ADHD people. But in order to understand how these similarities are recognized, a brief explaination of the three sub types of ADHD are required.
ADHD people are actually divided into three different branches. I will go through each of them while at the same time, I will also be comparing certain noticeable traits between each of them and that of the gifted people.
ADHD-PI stands for Attention Deficient Hyperactive Disorder - Predominantly Inattentive. Individuals of this group are also referred to as simply ADD although that term has been dropped out of use since 1994. For the most part, the PI group tend to be a lot less hyperactive than the other two subtypes and most kids within this group are very often prone to accepting negative feedbacks about themselves by their higher authorities such as from teachers and professors. Adults of this group sometimes show less confidence in most tasks that require ones full attention as well. The PI groups, however, are also the most often to be diagnosed with Specific Developmental Disorders (SDD)which causes the individual to have a narrow focus on only the stuff that fascinate them. While many tend to frown upon those with SDD, it is also (ironically) one of the few leading cause to success in a lot of ADHD individuals and this is also what drives some into thinking that gifted people are actually ADHD. For instant, if an individual is fascinated in the things they do then they are willing to put all of their time and energy into getting it done. If they are very fascinated in a particular puzzle, they'll do whatever it takes to solve it. Both ADHD and gifteds carry these traits to a much higher level then those not diagnosed with ADHD. And this is what Albert Einstein was, an ADHD who had a very narrow focus on physics and math and it was him who busted this bogus theory about this hypothetical planet name Vulcan said to be located between Mercury and the sun.
ADHD-HI stands for Attention Deficient Hyperactive Disorder - Hyperactive Impulsive. The HI group are basically the opposite to the PI groups in which many are known to be extremely hyperactive. While most children have a lot of energy, kids of the HI group tend to need plenty of exercises to burn off most of them. The biggest misconception about ADHD-HI people is that they have more energy than normal kids. The truth is, while most normal kids are capable of suppressing a good level of their energy during class time, HI kids are only capable of doing so to a slightly lower level and this is one of the main problems that lead to many HI kids into not being able to focus in class aside from not wanting to focus on stuff that they're not enjoying. The hyperactivity in the HI people, especially in children, is easier to spark than that of the PI and it is usually the common negative feedbacks from authoritative figures that are the catalyst to many unwanted behaviours such as temper tantrum and other destructive behaviours. In the parallel, gifteds who are thoroughly given negative feedbacks are also prone to these unwanted behaviours. Unfortunately for many HI kids, continuous negative feedbacks also trigger some of them to develop conduct disorder which a majority of it is caused by negative emotions about themselves. Other causes of these behaviours include feeling insecure or being caged into doing tasks that they are not enjoying. Another thing about the HI group is that the fact that many are also diagnosed with pervasive disorder, causing them to have an interest in multiple things which in addition makes them become fascinated in one subject but then they'd quickly become bored of it. Many gifteds also sport these qualities, hence the similarities.
The last sub type are the combined types, basically ADHD individuals of this type are in between that of a PI and HI group and may have behaviours that are found in both types.
So in general, gifteds are very similar to ADHD in which both of them are very likely to turn their attention away from things that seem boring to them and are willing to put every energy into stuff that fascinate them.
I have ADHD and I know it's real. It's probably way more than you know, it's not just being hyper and distracted, you are angry and frustrated most of the time. When I was little and something didn't go how I wanted it to(but it went really bad) I would say I was going to kill myself, one time, I took a knife, but couldn't bring myself to do it. It can also be an excuse, you have to know what the ADHD is causing to happen, or if it's something else.
What cold medications can you take with ADHD medications?
I would try to use antihistamine products instead of those containingdecongestants, which could increase the stimulant effect of the ADHD meds .
Can you take antihistamines with ADHD drugs?
Yes, most antihistamines are safe to take with stimulant-based ADHD drugs (Adderall, Concerta, Dexedrine). However, make sure the preparation doesn't contain pseudoephedrine which could raise blood pressure to a dangerous level combined with a stimulant taken for ADHD.
If you have ADHD how will your body be affected?
ADHD is a brain disorder; it does not affect the body.
Where can you find research showing that caffeine may help a child with ADHD?
* The article linked to the right, "The caffeine controversy
Can Adderall make ADHD symptoms worse?
That being said prolonged use of the medications could cause issues for those without ADHD, as they would be operating with higher than average levels of these neurotransmitters. Any time you are forcing your body to operate in a way that it isn't intended to, you run a risk. ADHD patients taking this medication are in a different category however. In these patients the medication normalizes these neurotransmitters.
Think about it like this. You have two people, one of which has a normal metabolism and the other has a very high metabolism. If they both go out to a restaurant, the one with the high metabolism has to eat more to be full and keep their body fueled and running optimally. The person with the normal metabolism wouldn't want to eat as much as their friend, as they would become overweight. Someone with ADHD needs to medication to regulate their neurotransmitters and keep their mind running optimally. Someone without ADHD taking this medication doesn't need this help, so the medication could cause damage to their system.
i think its possible, because excessive amounts of dopamine burn out other cell receptors, leading to cell loss, and eventual brain damage, making it even harder to concentrate and focus later in life. dopamine is needed to focus, but taking a medication to stimulate dopamine activity is not natural, and it will do more bad then good, in the long run. its this: If your house is cold, would you burn the furniture in your house, to make it warm? not that im against medication, its just that there are always other options to solving a problem.
I started taking stimulant medication since I was in 8'th grade. My senior year I started taking too much of it because I wanted to prevent the emotional down that happens when it wears off. My doctor got scared that I would start abusing it, or that I aleady was, so she has been taking me off of it slowly since then. By my third year in college I was almost completely off of adderall. My life was more awful the less I took, because I no longer knew how to deal with having ADD symptoms. I have just got a new doctor and am going back onto adderall again. I'm not sure if my ADD is worse. I don't think it is but I could be wrong. I think it's just that I'm not used to having to contain and control the problems that come with having ADD. If I hadn't taken the medication until now, I would have probably learned how to deal with my symptoms better than I am able today. Some people even say that you can train your brain to not even have symptoms, expecially during your youth. (Biofeedback might help with training your brain as well). By taking pills that took away my ADD problems, I didn't have to learn meathods of dealing, and I didn't have to train my brain. Thus I missed out on making my ADD better. But I don't think the ADD is any worse than it used to be; I just have to re-learn selfrestraint. I also don't think that you could ever train your brain completely to have no ADD problems. My boyfriend has ADD but was never given medication for it. While he can deal with his ADD better than I could right now off my pills, his symptoms by no means have disapeared. Plus I have met several adults who have never gotten treatment and are still haveing big problems. If I could do it all again I would have taken stimulants even earlier in life. It has turned my life around. Stimulants have enabled me to preform better in school. For the first time in my life I actually got A's and B's. I started taking better care of myself because they motivated me to be more productive. I don't know if I could have ever made it into college if I didn't have adderall or other stimulants. When I have the right medication, I can major in anything I want--even subjects that require a lot of work. Otherwise I would have to major in something that didn't require a lot of attention, like art, or hospitality management. One of my friends who has not received any treatment was trying a difficult major and he is now 26 and only a junior because he has had to repeat classes. He is not dumb at all; he just can't concentrate on anything. I learned from doctors that people who don't treat ADD also can have problems with depression too, which I have seen examples of in some of my friends with ADD. If you are willing to be on medication for maybe even your whole life, it would definitely improve your life. If you are not willing and you still take meds, when you come off your meds, it will be a lot harder to deal with it than it would have been. However, you would have the benefit of having a more productive life for the period that you were on meds.
I've been taking either Ritalin or Dexedrine for 15 years. My ADD isn't worse. I've had more symptoms of old age pop in, but going from age 35 to 50 would account for being more tired now and more forgetful as well. After all those years, if something dastardly was going to happen, it would have by now. I know life without stimulant medication would not be worth living.
ummmmmm it would probably be inappropriate for me to answer this question in my immediate condition considering circa 40 minutes ago i just tossed up my container of dexies and hit a home run with my skateboard and watched those orange grommits go flying into the gulch outside my apartment. If my math is correct i am currently peaking from my last dose of orangemen that i took at 12:00 (it is 2:08 PST). I have been taking the short acting dexidrine 3 times a day since a week after graduating high school. i am currently a sophomore in college. my life since high school in three hundred million ways has been three hundred million times different. if my life ended today there would be no doubt i would consider the last 15 or so months to be the most prolific era of my life. I did AMAZING things. Now this is not to say that these are some miracle drug, i also tried sooooooo much harder and dreamed sooooooo much bigger than i ever had. im not exactly sure what went wrong, it went wrong, or if something actually did go wrong. there are soo many ways to look at things, and i can't choose one. All i know is i couldn't hang anymore with my current situation and so i just chucked them. My testimony cannot be taken as anything close to a standard or ordinary case however. I did not go about getting treated in an orthodox way by any means. when i was diagnosed with ADD i didn't even know what to think. I took it pretty acceptingly, and i was pretty much the only one. None of my friends really beleived me or even believed in ADD. None of them even do now. I don't think anybody beleives in ADD, and they've got me wondering if i even believe in it. In retrospect, you probably shouldn't take much from this testimony, i probably shouldn't even have written it. Perhaps i shall come back in a few weeks and edit it once i have undergone the grave magnitude of imminent change resulting from my recent actions. I have to go to class.
ANSWER
It can be harder to accept ADD once it's treated. To experience ADD on a practical daily basis in is for the most part bull. 'Cut me a break from all the bunch of stupid crap going on all at once inside making everything complicated. I'm riding a bus. I just want to do this most simple routine but within seconds of silence I'll have a s-load of crap fill into my bucket about what i'm gona do next or what I'm gona do if I can't figure out what I'm gona do next or how I'm thinking about what and everything else all bunched that,
It's hard to not to wish for an easy way
to ride as simple as the wave
How do you slow the hyperness down in a 3 yr old that has ADHD?
First of all I know this is biased but you sound like a mother and being a 17 year old diagnosed with ADD (very very similar to ADHD) it sounds like you are trying to cure them of some abomination. There is no way to "cure" ADHD. When someone has any form of ADHD, their minds are neurologically functioned in a certain way, which can disable slight portions of your child's brain but not to the great extent that many in the general public believe. The effects vary from case to case but typically some symptoms can include disorganization, faulty social skills (wanting to spend time alone rather than playing or quiet), being more prone to impulsivity, and many other possible traits. But there is no cure for ADHD, there are ways to help your child mentally, most of which are stimulants for the brain usually in methamphetamine form. But before you run and yell about giving your child drugs, there are many types of stimulants that help and all of which are in small dosages and not straight up methamphetamine. I take Concerta, which is a stimulant that does not require multiple-daily uses. Concerta is taken once daily and the drug is passed through the taker's system within the day and there are no remnants in one's body which prevents any risk of dependence. I would suggest you speak with your doctor about seeing a pediatrician who knows of a neurologist because he would know more than I would about the medications as well as the disease itself. The best thing to do for your child is, while they are growing up, be supportive when you recognize any behaviors that could relate to their disease and do not by any means punish them for it, it is beyond their control. It is a neurological disfunction which is usually passed down through genes. So your raising of them is not the cause. I really do hope you find what you can to best help your child.
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At three years of age, I would not worry about it too much yet. It is extremely difficult to say a three year old actually has ADHD. A lot of the symptoms that could be ADHD could also reflect that they are simply a toddler. There are a lot of ways to deal with ADHD, especially at the age of three. It is a great time to help them learn some coping behaviors before they go to school.
My daughter has an issue with ADHD since she was young, but we have never medicated her. I am not against meds, but if they can learn to get through days without a negative impact and without relying on meds, then it is to their benefit. Rather you decide to go with meds or not, a focus on coping behaviors is pretty important.
At three, you can start teaching small things. If they are fidgety to the point of distracting everyone around them (which is actually pretty normal for any three year old), you can teach them to get it out by tapping on their leg. It is quiet, can be done under a desk, and is not overly distracting for those around them. When they start school, it is something they can do without drawing negative attention on themselves. You want to watch for energy buildups (again... can happen with any three year old), and give them constructive opportunities to burn it off. You would much rather see them running like a wild man on the playground than in your kitchen. If you know you have to go somewhere they are going to be sitting still, run some energy off of them first.
Get them some games that are fun, but that require focus. Try to get them to stick with them for as long as they can without causing them a lot of frustration. You can start slow, and work your way into more. There are many memory match games on the market with popular characters. Simple puzzles or other games where they are required to sit down and focus on detail will be helpful. Just be careful not to make them hate them by forcing it for longer periods than they can deal with.
If they are getting "too spazzy," help them bring it down a notch. At three, they won't be able to recognize when they are overly stimulated. It is up to you to remove them from the situation and find them a calmer situation and a focus.
Of course, keep talking to their doctor all the way through. Every case is different, but paying attention and finding alternative ways to cope with situations will always be useful.
Does marijuana help you if you are bi-polar?
It is common belief within the medical field that marijuana will worsen the bipolar disorder. There are those who swear that the weed has helped them A LOT and then you have those within the medical field who laugh at these people. The sad truth is this, not enough research has been done and most doctors, less you find a very experimental one, would most likely not prescribe you medical marijuana. However, I am bipolar and I used to smoke it on a regular basis and I really thought that it helped me. My anxiety would literally vanish and my mania was pretty much non-exsistent. HOWEVER, I also was under the impresion it was making the depression side of my bipolar disorder worse. I say self medicate yourself at your own risk. I am on invega and wellbutrin and feel better than I have in years. I say stick with what is proven to work rather than something that is a big mystery.
in my other personal studies not only has medical marijuana shown decreases in my weight, anxiety,cholesterol, andhunger. as though eating medical marijuana has proven more efficient.Preliminary studies reveal that fish oil may be helpful in supporting mental health and wellbeing. Studies show that fish oil supplements may have some success enhancing aptitude levels and developing mental focus in children.
It is important to take pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplements, like Triple Strength Omega 3. To avoid impurities in fish oil, choose a fish oil supplement that has purity levels of 90 percent and above. This will give you a high potency of omega 3 fatty acids for maximum health benefits.
Do ADD medications have Methamphetamine in them?
Desoxyn does, others are different variations of ampthetamine, they should be taking it if they are prescribed it. It's not like the street drugs in the low prescribed doses.
If you think your child or someone you know may have ADD/ ADHD you can seek a psychologist, psychiatrist, or neurologist. Neurologists can diagnose and prescribe any relevant medication if neccessary.
How do you currently treat ADHD?
ADHD is a neurobehavioral development disorder that involves underdeveloped regions of the brain; mainly the regions that control focus, attention, and planning (executive functions). ADHD is best treated with a combined approach.
Most ADHD individuals respond excellent to medication. Stimulants are the first line treatment and include amphetamine (brand names include: Adderall, Dexedrine) and methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta), along with newer stimulant drugs such as lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse). Stimulants work by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain which has the reverse effect expected: stimulants calm individuals with ADHD. There are other numerous medications, including the non-stimulant atomoxetine (Straterra) and other off-label drugs used to help with the symptoms of ADHD.
The second proven treatment is behavioral interventions. Behavioral interventions include cognitive behavior modification, coaching, and support groups. "Life" coaching involves meeting with a person regularly to receive input and set goals, while helping the individual see what behaviors he/she needs to change.
Lastly, most ADHD individuals exercise extremely calming and this has been proven in medical literature. There are numerous other treatments including natural herbs and vitamins which have not been proven clinically effective at this point.
The best way to treat ADHD is with a combination of medication and behavioral therapy, under the advice of a doctor.
Does medicaid cover Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder testing?
You have to find a provider that will test and treat for ADHD that takes medicaid as insurance. But yes, medicaid will cover it.
Can an adult receive SSI for ADHD?
You will have to contact the SSA office to help you determine this your self you can find some information about this by going to the SSA gov web site
using the search box
Click on the below related link
It varies from person to person. Some doctors, such as Dr. Tom O'Connell, report that they have a number of hyperactive patients for whom pot has helped tremendously. Other people may have no benefit from it. No medicine is equally effective for everyone, but marijuana is definitely good for at least some people with hyperactivity. The only way to know if a medicine works for you is to try it.
What is the Diagnostic criteria for ADHD and Autism?
A description of a condition labeled Asperger's syndrome first appeared in 1981. Different people had done research on the condition since then, but symptoms were not clearly described until 1989-1991 by several different researchers. DSM is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. In 1994, Asperger's Syndrome was added to the DSM. Until a condition appears in the DSM, it does not receive much recognition in the US. Before that, it was sometimes called "autistic psychopathy", "schizoid disorder of childhood", "atypical autism", "social skills learning disability", "nonverbal learning disability", or whichever trait seemed to be causing the most difficulty, such as obsessive-compulsiveness. This breaks the criteria into six categories:
* impaired social interaction * restricted repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities * impaired social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning * no delay in language development * no delay in cognitive development * does not meet criteria for other pervasive developmental disorders or schizophrenia disorders
The European equivalent of the DSM published by the World Health Organization is known as the ICD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems). It included Asperger's Syndrome in the 1992 publication. This breaks the criteria into four categories:
* no delay in language or cognitive development * abnormalities in reciprocal social interaction * intense, circumscribed interest or restricted repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities * does not meet criteria for other pervasive developmental disorders, schizophrenia disorders, or several other disorders Lars Christopher Gillberg has done significant research on autism and Asperger's Syndrome, and the criteria he developed is considered by those who actually work with children to be more accurate. It was published in 1989. He has six categories of criteria:
* social impairments * narrow interests * repetitive routines * speech and language abnormalities * non-verbal communication problems * motor clumsiness Peter Szatmari also proposed diagnostic criteria for Asperger's Syndrome in 1989. He has four categories of criteria:
* social isolation * impaired social interaction * impaired non-verbal communication * speech and language peculiarities M. S. Garnett and Tony Attwood developed a questionnaire to identify Asperger's Syndrome, which is known as The Australian Scale for Asperger's Syndrome, which was published in 1997. It has a checklist divided into six categories: social and emotional abilities, communication skills, cognitive skills, specific interests, movement skills, and other characteristics.
Tony Attwood's and Carol Gray's criteria is listed as "discovery criteria", rather than diagnostic criteria, because it focuses on the strengths of a person with AS. It looks at Asperger's Syndrome from a different point of view.
Links for each set of diagnostic criteria are below.
Is it true that people who have ADHD are smart?
Many people with ADHD are smart, but not always, and it does not always show because the people are not attentive and therefore do not seem smart at all, just hyper and quite annoying.
What is the most effective ADHD treatment?
The most effective treatment for ADHD is a combination of medication and behavioral therapy. Using both of these therapies ensures proper treatment of the specific cause of ADHD for each individual. There are stimulant and non-stimulant options for the medication therapies.
How do you tell someone you think they have ADHD?
Good question! I haven't told my folks yet that I have been recently diagnosed!
You don't mention how old you are...and I presume by the wording of your question that you haven't been officially diagnosed yet. If this is the case, it might be worth talking to someone with ADD expertise, in confidence, to determine if a diagnosis is likely. I don't know if you have free access to this kind of advice through college etc (we do in the UK).
Then I suggest you write all the indicators down that make you suspect ADD. Everything from particular events in your childhood (ADD symptoms have to be present before 7yrs) and how you felt then to how you feel now.
When its all listed it will help you justify your suspicions to your folks if you really need to. You may find they need little convincing or are surprisingly supportive. Good Luck!
It's a shame you should HAVE to convince them. Hopefully, they'll be supportive and want to help you.
It might help to provide some informational pamphlets for them to read. Don't overwhelm them them with a stack of books and medical research/studies. :)
I don't mean to worry you but you should be prepared for a skeptical reaction. Often people are less than sympathetic when it comes to illnesses or disabilities that they can't actually see or have tangible proof of.
I'm in my thirties and my mom and step-dad are either in denial or simply refuse to accept that I (and 2 of my sisters!) suffer from varying degrees of ADD, depression, and anxiety. I sincerely hope you have a better support system than I've had. You'll fare far better than I have.
Good Luck and take care.
