In Focus: Everything You Need To Know About ADHD

For most people, the course of childhood is marked by running and playing and small mischiefs like occasionally shirking homework. But in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), these aren’t just occasional occurrences — they’re often detrimental to their lifestyle and get in the way of their social, behavioral, and even educational development. ADHD is a chronic condition that develops in childhood and continues to affect people into their adulthood. Since the symptoms of ADHD are extreme cases of normal childhood behavior, it’s often difficult to spot. For people who are not aware of the condition, a child with ADHD may be pinpointed as a trouble-maker or a ‘problem’ child. They may be painted as lazy, rude, or annoying by the people around them but this is far from the truth. Let’s take a look at the causes, symptoms, and treatments (including the usability of Stem Cell Therapy in India) of ADHD to learn more.

Causes

There is no clear cause of ADHD, although there are some links to genetic or environmental factors. Risk factors for the condition include:

• Having a blood relative with the condition
• Maternal smoking or drinking during pregnancy
• Environmental factors in childhood — exposure to lead for example
• Premature birth

Symptoms

ADHD manifests in a variety of ways, and is often categorized into three sub types:

• Predominantly inattentive
• Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive
• Combination of the two

Symptoms start before the age of 12 and are often noticeable in children as young as three years old.

Type one: predominantly inattentive

Children with this type may:

• Fail to pay close attention to details or make careless mistakes in school work
• Have trouble staying focused in class or at play
• Appear not to be listening even when being spoken to directly
• Have trouble organizing tasks and activities
• Dislike or avoid tasks that require mental focus (ie homework)
• Be easily distracted
• Lose things required for activities, such as toys or school supplies
• Forget to do activities, like chores

 

Type two: predominantly hyperactive/impulsive:

Children with this type may:

• Fidget — tap their hands, squirm in their seats, etc
• Find it difficult to stay seated in the classroom or similar situations
• Be constantly in motion
• Run around and climb in situations that aren’t appropriate
• Find it difficult to play or do activities quietly
• Talk too much
• Blurt out answers, sometimes even interrupting the questioner
• Have difficulty waiting their turn
• Intrude or interrupt others’ games or conversations

Many of these symptoms sound like common characteristics of childhood. Many children don’t like to do their homework, for example, and young children often have short attention spans. The scale tips towards ADHD when these things start to adversely affect the child’s life across multiple scenarios. For example, a lot of children may not be able to focus on homework that they find boring, but would be able to do a more fun activity —  like coloring or playing a game — with no problem. A child with ADHD might find it difficult to focus on both these tasks regardless of their level of interest. 

 

ADHD and Gender

Until fairly recently, there was a long-held belief in the medical community that boys were more susceptible to ADHD than girls. The Centres for Disease Control even quantified it, stating that boys were three times more likely to have the condition. However, research now shows that this may be because ADHD often presents itself differently in boys than in girls. Boys tend to show externalized symptoms, usually connected to hyperactivity. Girls, on the other hand, show more internalized symptoms — more in line with the inattentive aspect of the disorder. Because of this, the condition often goes undiagnosed in girls until much later in life.

 

Adult ADHD

Despite its name, adult ADHD also manifests in childhood, however, a person with adult ADHD might have gone undiagnosed for many years. ADHD in adults looks a little different than in children. An adult with ADHD may:

• Be impulsive
• Have difficulties staying organized or prioritizing
• Have poor time management skills (linked to phenomena known as time-blindness)
• Have trouble focusing on tasks or multitasking
• Be unable to plan properly
• Have a low tolerance for frustration
• Have frequent mood swings or be hot-tempered
• Have problems following through or completing tasks
• Have trouble coping with stress

 

Treatments

While there is no cure for ADHD, there are treatments that can help manage the symptoms. Both children and adults with the condition will probably be recommended a combination of medication and therapy depending on their needs. Common treatments for ADHD include:

• Behavioral therapy to help parents and teachers learn and implement behavior-changing techniques such as a token reward system
• Social skills training to teach children appropriate social behaviors
• Psychotherapy to give older children and adults with ADHD a platform to speak about their experiences, explore negative behavioral patterns, and learn ways to deal with their symptoms
• Family therapy to work with parents and siblings; helps them better understand ADHD gives them an outlet for the stresses of having a family member with the condition

Stem Cell Therapy is a burgeoning option where Stem Cell can help fix damaged cells and replace dead ones, improving some of the neurological symptoms of the condition.

There are an estimated 6.1 million people who live with ADHD worldwide. It’s not always easy to spot someone who has the condition, and many people who have ADHD can live completely normal lives as they learn to manage and monitor their symptoms. If you or a loved one has ADHD, rest assured that though the path ahead may not be an easy one, it is one well-traveled. Start looking for ADHD treatment, maybe even Stem Cell Therapy, in India today and take the first step!