Special People Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD)

Definition According to Dr Heinrich Hoffman, people with ADHD are often noted for their inconsistencies. One day they can "do it," and the next they cant. They may have difficulty remembering simple things yet have "steel trap" memories for complex issues.

Causes Research has been conducted for many years and there is a distinct relationship between ADHD and the brain structure, dopamine and nor epinephrine, and parts of the brain that control impulse and attention. Some researchers believe that ADHD is related to mothers who smoked, drank alcohol, or abused drugs while they were pregnant. There also may be a relationship in ADHD and lead exposure. For years, it was thought that there was a relationship between diet and ADHD, believing that too much sugar in ones diet would result in ADHD. That link was dismissed as untrue. The mystery in determining the exact cause of ADHD is that each case is different which leads doctors and researchers to believe that there could be multiple factors causing this disorder. There has been a lot of research on the brain activity and ADHD and research has shown that people with ADHD do have less activity and blood flow to certain parts of the brain than someone without ADHD. The parts of the brain that are responsible for behavior, attention, and controlling mood are the prefrontal cortex, the basil ganglia, and the cerebellum and these are the parts of the brain that are mainly affected. Other evidence indicates that neurotransmitters play a large role in ADHD, especially dopamine. When certain neurotransmitters are off whack the brain functions inefficiently this causes many problems that are also related to ADHD. The problems that stem from this are the

same problems that are caused by ADHD, inattention, hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and so on. There has been some research also conducted that indicates there may be some other risk factors that cause ADHD such as watching too much TV, growing up in an unloving and insecure environment, and a poor diet. It is possible, according to some researchers that watching too much TV can cause the brain to need constant stimulation as watching TV stimulates the brain. It is also possible that if a child is raised in a home where there is no parent/child bonding and there is a lack of emotional attachment, there may be a link to ADHD. A poor diet that lacks in nutrition, food allergies, infant malnutrition, insufficient omega-3 fatty acids, and other links to diet might also contribute to ADHD.

Problems faced A child with ADHD often shows some of the following: trouble paying attention inattention to details and makes careless mistakes easily distracted loses school supplies, forgets to turn in homework trouble finishing class work and homework trouble listening trouble following multiple adult commands blurts out answers impatience fidgets or squirms leaves seat and runs about or climbs excessively seems "on the go" talks too much and has difficulty playing quietly interrupts or intrudes on others

Support & Caring

MYADHDSUPPORT, Malaysia

Reference health.groups.yahoo.com/group/myadhdsupport/ http://disabilitymalaysia.com www.adult-child-add-adhd.com/categories/. www.child-development-guide.com/ Taylor, John F, Helping Your Hyperactive/ Attention Deficit Child, Prima Publising, Rocklin, 1944, pg 9-11.