One my friends recently asked me the odd question of "What Is The ADHD".
At first I wondered if he was talking about the mental disorder or talking about the after dinner homemade desert (ADHD).
I told him I didn't have any healthy deserts in the fridge.
He paused, and then said, I think my son has ADHD and was wonder if you could maybe tell me more about what is the ADHD.
I told John to leave out the, in what is the ADHD and we could talk.
I also told him that, while knowing a great deal about the condition, perhaps his sons pediatrician, or a child ADHD specialist might be the best place to learn more, or confirm or discount his suspicions.
The very next words out of his mouth were, would you please just tell me What Is The ADHD.
I smiled, and then agreed.
ADHD is short for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and not long ago was called attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADD).
It is a condition characterized by difficulty paying attention and a high degree of restlessness and impulsive behavior.
Parents or teachers almost always notice the condition before the age of 7, and from what I have read, can range from very noticeable to mild depending on the way the symptoms manifest themselves.
In some ways every child a unique set of symptoms.
The primary symptoms are inattention/distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity or restlessness, with inattention having to be present for a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD.
These signs must be present in at least two settings, with home and school being the most common.
The problems must persist for at least 6 months and cause the child substantial difficulty.
My friends son is currently only 5 years old and about to start school next year.
I pointed out that most of the time this condition interferes with a child's ability to learn, thus contributing to an 80 percent academic underachievement rate with their schoolwork being messy, careless mistakes being commonplace and generally void of careful thought.
Children with this condition will often behave as if their mind is elsewhere and they are oftentimes seem as if they are not listening.
This often leads to failure to complete schoolwork, chores, or other duties.
I emphasized to my friend Steve that a professional opinion should be sought out with possible treatment options considered.
Steve thanked me for my time in describing to him what is the ADHD, we both laughed, and he headed home.
What Next? For those struggling with ADHD finding an effective treatment option is a good first step.
The most common form of treatment are prescription stimulants such as Ritalin, Adderall and Cylert.
While effective, all stimulant medications come with a number of serious label warnings.
The risk of side effects, or perhaps lack of success with stimulants, has prompted many to investigate other options.
A couple examples of this are behavior modification therapy and/or natural remedies.
Natural remedies for ADHD are a side effect free way to address such problematic symptoms as inattention, distractibility, impulsivity, erratic behavior and hyperactivity and can be used both as a standalone treatment or as a compliment to other nonprescription alternatives.