What’s Not ADHD?
February 5, 2010 by admin
Filed under General Health
ADHD, which is short for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a subject that has an unclear boundary. It is actually a psychological and developmental disorder commonly found in children but not unusual among adults. It is characterized by excessive inattention and hyperactivity. A big question on every parent’s mind is “When is a child considered to have ADHD?”
As mentioned above and as the name suggests, a child with ADHD shows a higher-than-normal need of attention or the lack of it and too much display of impulsivity. However, the line between normalcy and excessiveness is not explicitly defined. ADHD-diagnosed children often exhibit tantrums but every child displays a form of tantrum every now and then. Affected kids also have the lack of ability to focus, but isn’t that common to all other kids?
A group of child psychiatrists have concocted a list of guidelines that enumerates characteristics to somehow correctly diagnose a child with this condition. According to the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), a child is considered to have ADHD if they exhibit all characteristics in the list. Careful attention is much needed to determine these characteristics, which may or may not be conclusive.
ADHD is not exclusive to children. It is also not rare among adults as there is a significant number of adults who are diagnosed with ADHD. Sufferers who are already grown-ups tend to be self-destructive. These people when undiagnosed resort to drugs and alcohol as a consequence of their. However, more controversy hounds the issue of ADHD in adults. It has even been argued if it really exists. One reason for this argument is that it has not been categorized as a different condition from that of children.
Even if the ADHD was properly diagnosed and treated in a child, the chance of a better life when he/she gets into his/her teen years and adulthood is very slim. According to data, only a small percentage of these children get to have a high school diploma and from that number, an even smaller percentage obtained a college degree. They are even more prone to car accidents and teen pregnancies.
Treatment of the said condition is not spared from further issues. Behavioral therapies and medications are primarily used for the treatment. The controversy lies on the effectivity of these treatments. Critics question their effect in long-term use as there is not much information to support them.
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