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ADD | ADHD | Pediatric Chiropractic

ServicesADD | ADHD | Pediatric Chiropractic

ADD and ADHD in Children

How Pediatric Chiropractic Can Help in Humble, Texas

 

Overview

ADHD is an acronym for Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is a common childhood disorder. ADHD varies from person to person.  Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has it that more than 6 million children in the United States are affected by this disorder.

ADHD is also known as Attention deficit disorder (ADD). ADD is an old name for the disorder ADHD. Initially ADD was used to describe a person who had difficulty focusing but was not hyperactive. In May 2013, the American Psychiatric Association released the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Criteria to diagnose ADHD was changed by the DSM-5.

 

Types of ADHD/ADD

ADHD are of three types – inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, and combined.

  • The term ADD describes inattentive ADHD. This means that a person shows enough symptoms of inattention. The person is easily distracted but is not impulsive or hyperactive.
  • Hyperactive/impulsive ADHD implies that the person shows symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity but doesn’t have issues with attention.
  • Combined ADHD means that the person exhibits symptoms of impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity.

 

Inattention

One of the complications of ADHD is difficulty in focusing or concentrating. A child may be diagnosed as being inattentive if:

  • He is easily distracted
  • Does not remember easily, even in daily activities
  • Has difficulty carrying out tasks or daily activities
  • Rarely follows instructions
  • Fond of making careless mistakes
  • Loses focus or is easily side-tracked
  • Inability to complete school work or chores.
  • Is extremely disorganized.

Hyperactivity and Impulsivity

If a child exhibits the following symptoms, he or she may be diagnosed with hyperactivity or impulsivity.

  • Never stays one place – always on the go
  • Very talkative
  • Shows signs of impatience – never waits for his turn
  • Runs around or climbs in inappropriate situations
  • Constantly interrupts or intrudes on others
  • Never plays quietly or take part in leisure activities.
  • Blurts out an answer before someone finishes asking a question.

 

Severity

ADHD could have symptoms ranging from mild to severe. The severity of the child’s symptoms depends on his environment and unique physiology. Some children may be mildly hyperactive or inattentive when they perform a task that they do not enjoy. However, if they perform a task which they consider a hobby, they focus on it. Others may experience more severe symptoms. Such can have negative effects on social life, and academic activities.

The severity of the symptoms is enhanced in unstructured group settings such as a playground. Conversely, symptoms are less severe in structured situations such as classroom setting.

Symptoms can be worsened by situations such as depression, learning disability or anxiety. There are reports that symptoms of ADHD fade with age.

Determining your type of ADHD is a step in the right direction to finding the right treatment. It is best to discuss every symptom you experience with your physician in order to get the right diagnosis.

 

Causes of ADHD/ADD

In most cases, the causes of ADHD/ADD are not known. There is the belief that genetics is involved. The interaction between genetics, social factors, and the environment plays a role in its occurrence. Certain cases are linked to previous cerebral trauma or infection of the brain.

Genetics: Twin studies have shown that the disorder is often inherited. About 75 percent of cases are determined by genetics. Siblings of children who have the disorder are at a greater risk of developing same compared to siblings of children who do not have the disorder. Progression of ADHD into adulthood is also determined genetically. Genes involved in ADHD include DAT, DRD4, DRD5, TAAR1, MAOA, COMT and DBH. These genes affect dopamine transmission. Other genes that play a role include HTR1B, SNAP25, GRIN2A, BDNF, and TPH2.

Environment: environmental factors alongside genetics also play a role in the onset of ADHD. One of these is alcohol intake during pregnancy. Excessive consumption of alcohol during pregnancy results in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders which includes symptoms of ADHD. Exposing children to toxins such as polychlorinated biphenyls or lead also puts them at risk of developing problems similar to ADHD. The risk is also increased with low birth weight, premature birth, abuse, social deprivation, and neglect.

Society: ADHD diagnosis may reflect a non-functional family or a poor system of education rather than problems with the individual himself. Increasing academic expectations may explain some cases, with a diagnosis being a method for parents in some countries to get extra financial and educational support for their child.

 

Conventional treatment for ADHD

ADHD can be treated with medicine, behavior therapy, school support, and parent coaching. With medication, the brain’s ability to be attentive, slow down and use more self-control is activated.

Behavior therapy involves developing the child’s emotional, social and planning skills that may be inhibited by ADHD.

Parent coaching involves responding to the child’s behavior difficulties in the best possible way. These behavior difficulties are usually a part of the ADHD.

School support is from the teachers. They can encourage the affected kid to do well and have more fun at school.

ADHD can be improved with the right treatment. Parents and teachers have a role to play to mold the younger kid into effectively managing his behavior, emotions, and attention.

 

Normal behavior vs. ADHD

Most healthy children are hyperactive, impulsive or inattentive at one stage or the other in their lives. There’s nothing wrong with preschoolers having short attention spans and finding it a bit difficult to stick with one activity for a prolonged period. Even teenagers and older children do have varying attention spans depending on the level of interest.

This is also true of hyperactivity. Young children are full of energy. Generally, children are much more active than other humans. Hence it would be out of place to classify them as having ADHD just because they are different from other children.

If a child has issues with school but gets on easily at home or with his playmates, then it may be that there is something his struggling with other than ADHD. The same applies to those children who are excellent at school but are inattentive or hyperactive at home.