ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ADHD

ADHD is the short abbreviation for "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder", which is one of the most common childhood behavior disorders. It is estimated that somewhere between 5% and 9% of all children have ADHD. Of all children referred to mental health professionals, more are referred for ADHD than for any other condition.

But ADHD is also one of the most treatable of all psychiatric disorders, with several effective options ranging from medications to alternative therapies, psycho-social treatments, and educational interventions.

Those with ADHD can have problems in many of the areas of their life, including home, school, work, and in relationships. ADHD is a chronic and unrelenting problem. Though it will change in form through the years, it will persist into adulthood and impact all relationships including marriages, parenting, and work performance.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurologically based disorder.

This position has become controversial as many would like to dismiss the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder altogether saying that there is no evidence of neurological differences, or that there are no medical tests to diagnose ADD ADHD, or that the diagnostic criteria is too broad. But they would be wrong. There is an overwhelming amount of research to support the statement that, indeed, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurobiologically based condition. We discuss this in great detail in the neurology of the ADHD brain and offer plenty of ADHD research information.

Brain imaging studies show that the brains of those with ADHD are different from those without ADHD in terms of size, activity, and development. Certain regions of the ADHD brain can be as much as 10% smaller than those without ADHD. And areas such as the frontal lobes, cerebellum, and anterior cingulate, can be very under-active compared to normal. These areas can also be as much as two to three years behind in development compared to normal. These differences will remain through the life of a person with ADHD.

ADHD impacts various systems of the brain, particularly systems involved with "executive functions", "inhibition", and "working memory". Most of these involve the activity of the frontal lobes, and the interaction of the frontal lobes with other structures of the brain acting as a "system". But since the frontal lobes are smaller, less active, and behind in development, each of these systems is impacted to some degree. As other areas of the brain are also affected, the look or type of ADHD is different. Read more about ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Is ADHD Over-Diagnosed? Recent Study

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Is ADHD Over Diagnosed ? A Recent German Study

ADHD is not only over diagnosed, but it is often mis-diagnosed, according to a recent study out of Germany. According to this research, many child and adolescent psychiatrists and psychologists in Germany have a picture in their heads of what an ADHD child or teen looks like, or acts like, and then a child or teen that fits that picture gets the diagnosis. In this process actual diagnostic criteria takes a back seat to “experience” or “heuristics.” Read more about Is ADHD Over-Diagnosed? Recent Study

What are Astrocytes, and What Role Do They Play in the Brain?

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Do Astrocytes Play a Role in ADHD?

Our brains are tremendously complex – in may respects as vast as the universe. The brain is organized into different regions that each seems to have a particular function of expertise. The brain itself is composed of various types of brain cells, fatty acids, fluids, and neurotransmitters. We have heard about neurons like the “grey matter” of the brain, which are found in the more interior regions of the brain, and perhaps about “white matter” which separates the grey matter into various regions, and so on. Read more about What are Astrocytes, and What Role Do They Play in the Brain?

Casein Free - Gluten Free Diet, Autism, and William

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Ashley and her husband David are friends of mine. Over dinner a few weeks ago we were discussing the very positive results that they had seen from a Casein Free - Gluten Free eating program with their son William. I asked Ashley to write an article for our website and newsletter, as what she has learned just may help other of our readers. Read it carefully, and consider if some of these tips may help your child as well. -- Dr. Cowan, Editor

Our Life with Autism : Our Results with a Casein Free, Gluten Free Diet

If you are a parent of a child who has autism or autistic-like tendencies then you know the challenges of everyday life. Irregular sleep patterns, tantrums, food aversions or obsessions, hand flapping, and perhaps the most heart wrenching is the withdrawn state of your loved one. Read more about Casein Free - Gluten Free Diet, Autism, and William

Comparing Attend to Ritalin and EEG Biofeedback

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Attend, Ritalin, and EEG Biofeedback Training Compared

comparison chart of Attend, Ritalin, and EEG Biofeedback training

Parents are very concerned about the treatment interventions available to their children or teenagers who have been diagnosed with ADHD. And there is no doubt that the information on the internet can be confusing as everybody has their own agendas. The pharmaceutical companies hate the alternative treatments, and do what they can to bad talk them or even get the FDA to restrict them. And the manufacturers of alternative medicines, or the providers of alternative treatments are often just as opposed to medications being used to treat ADHD. The friction is often more philosophical than even financial, as the physicians, psychologists, and researchers doing the arguing can all make money in their practices anyway.

Do medicines work? Yes. They just need to be carefully prescribed and monitored. We actually like Ritalin as a treatment. It works for many with ADHD, and when properly and carefully used will help most people. Other ADHD medications can work as well. Do medications work for everybody? No. But the right medication with the right person will bring about a "day and night" improvement in that person, and with limited side effects. But badly chosen, badly prescribed, or badly monitored, and medications can be a nightmare, or worse. They are not toys to be played with.

Do alternative treatments work? Some really do! It just helps to pick the right one the first time. Read more about Comparing Attend to Ritalin and EEG Biofeedback

Advances in ADHD Medication

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Advances in Medications:

Over the past ten years the greatest advances in ADHD medicines has not been the development of some wonder drug, though some good medications have been developed. Rather the biggest advances in ADHD medicine has been the improvement and greater variety of the delivery systems of time tested and valuable drugs for ADHD.

Now the time tested methylphenidate comes in four different delivery forms:

  • Pills
  • Pumps
  • Pellets
  • Patches
Read more about Advances in ADHD Medication

Prevalence of ADHD

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How Many People Have ADHD ?

ADHD or "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" impacts somewhere between 5% and 9% of children and teenagers, and about 4% of adults, according to recent studies in the U.S. World-wide studies estimate the prevalence of ADHD at about 5%, as do older U.S. studies. The higher estimated prevalence rates may be due to a better understanding of what ADHD is, and to better diagnostic tools. But it is also possible that the higher rates are due to some with similar disorders, such as Aspergers or Fetal Alcohol Syndrome being mis-diagnosed with ADHD.

Less than half of the children with ADHD ever "out-grow" it in adolescence or adulthood. If untreated, the disorder can have long-term adverse effects into adolescence and adulthood, and it can certainly impact an adult's employment and relationships.

ADHD in childrenThe disorder has different "looks" or "types." This is discussed in great detail under the section the different types of ADHD which we encourage you to read through. For some it severely impacts behavior, and for others it mostly impacts learning, concentration, or information processing speed. For the group in the middle, it just impacts their attention, focus, concentration, and getting the job done. Read more about Prevalence of ADHD

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