Monday, February 23, 2009

ADD and ADHD

By Charlie Reese

There are many millions of youngsters which are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), or alternatively, with Attention Deficit Hyperactive (AAHD) every year. These disorders are quite similar in symptoms, with the main difference between ADD and ADHD is in the degree of behavioral impairment. Basically, ADHD is distinguished by a more acute level of hyperactivity.

The ADD patient suffers primarily from a lack of focus, prone to a lack of organization, with problems in concentration. The ADD patient may continually lose things and avoid tasks requiring focus.

A straightforward diagnosis of ADD would likely not include behaviors of impatience, fidgeting excessively while sitting in a chair or burning 5000 calories a day running around the house, which are behaviors characterizing ADHD.

So the main difference between ADD and ADHD is that, with ADHD, the patient has most symptoms of ADD, plus those pertaining to physical hyperactivity.

It should be noted that some cases of misdiagnoses of ADD or ADHD have been reported, where ultimately the child is found to have bipolar disorder, as some of the characteristics are similar. You'd be smart to discuss this possibility with your physician, to be sure you've covered all the bases. Another fact to store away: long term studies of psychological treatment for both ADD and ADHD have proven ineffective.

If a condition of difficulties with attention and/or hyperactivity exists in a child, physicians usually recommend that the situation be monitored for at least six months to be sure it is not a self-resolving issue. The differences between ADD and ADHD notwithstanding, the six month monitoring applies.

Allergies and dietary changes are implicated in many cases of ADD and ADHD alike. So it may be wise to test for allergies and try elimination techniques in detecting dietary problems, especially during this initial six month monitoring. You may be able to increase your child's ability to focus and be able to manage quite well, without the use of medications.

Some physicians recommend starting the day with a meal high in protein, which has been found to have a beneficial effect with some kids. Sugar should be restricted, as it's implicated in worsening of ADD and ADHD symptoms. Ask your physician to test for lactose intolerance, which can complicate the management of symptoms.

While caffeine is a natural stimulant, it has instead, a calming effect on ADD and ADHD patients. Just three quarters of a cup of coffee contains about the equivalent of stimulant as is found in an average dose of Ritalin, a commonly prescribed pharmaceutical.

On the herbal front, Gingko Biloba berries have been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese medicine as an aid to focus and concentration problems. Talk to a qualified herbalist about this possibility.

When you look over the difference between ADD and ADHD and the behaviors which characterize both, you'll note that a child's personality can influence rowdy behavior or impatience. Children also go through various stages of development and different times and to different degrees than others. So when you're considering the difference between ADD and ADHD, consider also if your child's behavior is actually not normal. Some kids are fidgety and have a harder time concentrating than their peers, but they grow out of it. - 14130

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