Lisa's son Jack had always been a handful. Even as a preschooler, he would tear through the house like a tornado, shouting, roughhousing, and climbing the furniture. No toy or activity ever held his interest for more than a few minutes and he would often dart off without warning, seemingly unaware of the dangers of a busy street or a crowded mall.
History of Behavior. The doctor will ask for a detailed history of the child's behavior. Parents should describe specific problems encountered during the child's development, family history of ADHD, and any recent life changes that may have affected the child. The doctor will inquire about your child's behavior at school and other settings outside
When adults are diagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) , they often respond with a feeling of relief rather than dismay. Many have struggled with symptoms since childhood, and receiving a diagnosis tends to place their life experiences in perspective: So thats why I had such a hard time concentrating in school. And, even better, now they can get treatment.
AD/HD have been shown to affect all aspects of a person's daily functioning including job and academic performance, social/romantic relationships, and self-esteem. AD/HD even affects sleep with many individuals reporting difficulty falling asleep, sleeping through the night, waking-up the next morning or remaining alert throughout the day. Research (including hundreds of studies) and clinical experience have shown that stimulant medications are the most effective first-line treatment for reducing the core symptoms of AD/HD. Medications combined with other therapies can significantly affect overall functioning and improve quality of life for those suffering from the disorder.
The program can be used instead of medication for children with mild to moderate symptoms or as adjunctive therapy for those taking stimulant medication. The program not only provides parent education and behavior modification but provides psychological interventions that (1) teach coping skills, (2) improve motivation and self-esteem and (3) may address mild to moderate manifestations of possible comorbidity including anxiety, depression and ODD.
If you simply pay attention to these simple details the possibility of the biggest two problems with ADD/ADHD medications are almost naturally corrected - no more frustration, no more fear of adverse effects. This article is a summary of three other articles here at EzineArticles with greater details.
Atomoxetine (Strattera) is neither a stimulant nor an antidepressant. It alleviates inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms of ADHD by affecting specific aspects of the norepinephrine system. Atomoxetine has been tested on more than 1,600 children, adolescents and adults. It is a prescription medication, but it is not a controlled substance like a stimulant. This allows medical professionals to give samples and to place refills on the prescriptions. It does not start working as quickly as the stimulants do. Reports suggest that the full effects are often not seen until the person has been taking atomoxetine regularly for 3 or 4 weeks.
Study after study has shown that when children's diets are changed to include Omega3, Vitamin B12 and other health supplements such as zinc and magnesium, the change in their behavior is well documented. I know of schools which have changed their lunch menu and the teachers are much happier than before because behavior problems decrease and I can assure you it is not because the kids are asleep.
Well, for those of you NOT into medical marijuana, this clinic is great. I originally booked an intake to receive meds for my chronic depression and relief from some of my negative ADHD symptoms. They started me on antidepressants for a month to see how I reacted to them before giving me a script for my ADHD meds. By day 16, my dark cloud had lifted and my anxiety reduced to a level I've never experienced before. I may or may not have cried happy tears.
Vetter VL, Elia J, Erickson C, Berger S, Blum N, Uzark K, et al. Cardiovascular monitoring of children and adolescents with heart disease receiving stimulant drugs: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young Congenital Cardiac Defects Committee and the Council on Cardiovascular Nursing. Circulation. 2008 May 6;117(18):2407-23. Epub 2008 Apr 21.
Similar to the treatment of eating disorders and substance abuse, treatment planning for ADHD considers all accumulated knowledge about a resident, and leverages the experience of our entire staff to customize her care. This collaborative approach is one of the distinguishing elements of treatment for ADD, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders at a leading rehab facility like Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center.
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Current advances in cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging, and behavioral and molecular genetics have provided evidence that ADHD is a complex neurobiological disorder. Many regions of the brain and several neurotransmitters have been implicated in ADHD. Biologically, the neurotransmitter dopamine has received considerable attention as being relevant to understanding ADHD. Neurologically, the prefrontal cortex seems to be relevant to understanding ADHD. The prefrontal cortex has a high requirement for dopamine, and plays a role in cognitive functions such as executive functions. The prefrontal cortex has many reciprocal connections with other brain regions, including the striatum (caudate nucleus, putamen), cerebellum and parietal cortex. Research has indicated that some of these brain regions are slightly smaller or have decreased activation in people with ADHD.
In the past, the first treatment offered to adults with ADHD has been stimulant drugs. ADHD studies show that approximately two thirds of adults with ADHD who are given these medications show significant improvement in ADHD symptoms. However, there are some difficulties in using stimulants to treat ADHD in adults. Stimulants are controlled substances and it is not uncommon for adults with ADHD to have or to have had problems with substance abuse. Short acting stimulants may wear off quickly and since adult patients administer the medication themselves, and usually have problems with forgetfulness, compliance can be problematic with multiple day dosing. Adults may experience significant difficulty in the evening when they do housework, pay bills, help children with homework or drive, or are tempted to use substances 'to relax'. Learn more about Stimulant therapy for ADHD.