There has been a lot of research conducted on the treatment of childhood and Adult ADHD. Numerous studies have been conducted on a variety of treatment options. For one there are different types of counseling that can can be offered in person or online, depending on the experience level of the pool of therapists you plan on making your selection from. There are three that have been proven to be effective in individuals that struggle with ADHD. These are behavioral therapy, taking medications, and doing both together. There is no treatment that has been shown to change the outcome of whether an individual will have ADHD. In other words, there is no cure. Individuals with ADHD are wired in a different way. For this reason, it is important to remember that this means they learn in a different way. Here are some of the different treatment options for both children and adults struggling with ADHD and a little about each one.
ADHD – Harnessing Hyper focus For Positive Results
Introduction
A confusing symptom of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is hyper focus, the ability to focus on a single activity for hours. ADHD sufferers whilst unable to concentrate in class, often have the ability to concentrate intently on activities that interest them. Hyper focus is not listed in the DSM-5 criteria for ADHD, and is very different from the other symptoms of ADHD.
ADHD sufferers often become so focused that they become oblivious to the world around them. This focus is narrower and more powerful than normal concentration and can be described as fixated. Once these people focus on a single activity, they find it difficult to shift their attention to another activity. They are drawn to activities such as computer games that offer instant feedback and gratification. ADHD sufferers have an unregulated attention system rather than just a short attention span, their attention settling on either end of the attention spectrum.
Some experts believe that hyper focus may be a coping mechanism which sufferers use to overcome their inattention. Some people are able to channel hyper focus into getting dull tasks done, some even making successful careers by channeling this focus into their work. Unfortunately, hyper focus is more often a liability. Children are likely to channel hyper focus into entertaining pastimes rather than into school work, combine this with poor time management and problems with socializing and the child could spend an inordinate amount of time playing computer games or other solitary activities.
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Alternative Treatments To ADHD
Source: rd.com
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral and mental condition that generally affects young children and adults alike. It is characterized by hyperactive behavior, lack of focus and concentration, and problems with retaining memories. The most common and widely accepted treatment modalities for ADHD include cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, and pharmacological management.
Co-Existing Mood Disorders In Children With ADHD
Introduction
Two-thirds of people with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) will be diagnosed with a co-existing condition. Most children diagnosed with such a condition will have a behavioral disorder, but around 18% of them will have mood disorders. Anxiety and depression are the most frequently diagnosed mood disorders in children with ADHD. These conditions can be caused by the frustrations of having to live with the symptoms of ADHD or they could be a coexisting mood disorder. Other common mood disorders include bipolar disorder, learning disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette Syndrome and substance abuse.
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Alternative Therapies For ADHD Children
ADHD And Medications
Parents and guardians of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder have been used to the usual therapies that are widely accepted and recommended by doctors and occupational therapists. These are behavioral therapy and medications. As the number of children diagnosed with ADHD has increased through the years, so has the number of drugs that have been prescribed for them. Medications such as Adderall (a stimulant) and atomoxetine (a non-stimulant) are effective in helping ADHD children focus and ignore distractions, but they also pose some dangerous side effects like loss of appetite, mood changes, heart problems, suicide ideations, and sleep problems.
Consequently, researchers have come up with a few essential alternative therapies that are capable of controlling some ADHD symptoms like difficulty focusing, habitual interrupting, and problems organizing. Here are some of the therapies and measures that parents and guardians can utilize.
Trying To Accept The Fact That My Son Has ADHD
Source: fyifamilies.co
Trying To Accept The Fact That My Son Has ADHD (And How I Was Able To Help Him Just In Time!)
“There is nothing wrong with my son! Who are you to tell me that there is something wrong with him – that he lacks focus, is inattentive and very hyperactive? He is just five years old! All kids are like that! How dare you isolate my boy like that!”
That was me a year ago and I was speaking with my son’s Kindergarten teacher. She was telling me that my boy has difficulty reading because he is easily distracted and can’t focus on school lessons. She also mentioned that he fidgets all the time and that my son is very hyperactive.
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ADHD – Adult Mood Disorder
Introduction
Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder is biological in origin. It is caused by a dysfunction in the transmission of information to the brain which results in the disruption of the brain’s executive function. The symptoms can also be affected by the environmental factors and the sufferer’s own emotional health. Mood disorders such as anxiety and depression are common amongst people who have been diagnosed with ADHD. This is sometimes due to emotional frustrations caused by the symptoms. In children with ADHD, the most common coexisting conditions are behavioral disorders – oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder. In adults, it is depression and anxiety.
Adult ADHD was only recognized in the 1970s. Until then it was believed that the symptoms would clear as the child grew up. It is estimated that 4.4% of adults in the United States have ADHD. The presence of a coexisting condition will increase the impact of ADHD. As the child with ADHD grows, so does the probability of a coexisting condition appearing. By the time that he has reached adulthood, he will have up to 70% chance of suffering from a co-existing condition. As children grow into adults, there is often a reduction in observable symptoms.
“An intriguing study by a team of researchers at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom found that ADHD may be caused by “structural differences in the brain’s gray matter.””, Samoon Ahmad M.D. tells.
ADHD – Co-Existing Disruptive Behavioral Disorders
Introduction
More than two-thirds of the sufferers of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD have co-existing disorders such as disruptive behavior disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities, tics, and Tourette Syndrome. The existence of one of these conditions complicates the treatment plan. Most children with ADHD will manage to adapt, but having one of the associated disorders makes it more likely that they will fail to finish their education. The best line of defense is an early diagnosis because the consequences of an undiagnosed or untreated coexisting condition can be severe.
Most children with ADHD will manage to adapt, but having one of the associated disorders makes it more likely that they will fail to finish their education. The best line of defense is an early diagnosis because the consequences of an undiagnosed or untreated coexisting condition can be severe.
Source: listelio.com
Diagnoses
Because ADHD is difficult to diagnose and because of the possibility of co-existing conditions, when presented with a possible case of ADHD, the doctors will conduct various investigations and analyses before determining whether or not the child has ADHD and/or other disorders. The investigation will include interviews with parents, the child, teachers, and caregivers. The doctors will seek to discover if the symptoms are a result of environmental factors such as relationship problems in the home. They will also explore family history to understand whether or not there is a previous history of any of the disorders.
This isn’t to say that every mental health professional you hire is going to consider or review the same things, and most of us know what a doctor is, but here is an interesting article about the difference between a therapist and a psychologist. Just know that whoever medical expert you speak with, the fact remains that any disorder can coexist with ADHD, but some are more common. Over 50% of ADHD sufferers have a disruptive behavior disorder.
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Being In Love And With ADHD
Each of us is entitled to form or build an affectionate relationship that will inspire, help, and function successfully in our own endeavors. As the song goes, “Love will keep us alive…”
But for a person with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), forming a relationship, or even maintaining one, can be challenging in many ways.
What Is Life With ADHD?
Imagine waking up in the morning and realizing that you have many things to do but cannot ultimately plan and work on it. It cripples you!
This may sound like a typical adult who is being bombarded with deadlines at work, a pestering boss, children whining at home, or just having a bad day. For a normal individual, one can easily identify which of these critical points can be addressed immediately and then move on to the next until most of the concerns are being handled. That’s life according to us.