Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Introduction: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), also previously called Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), is a behavior disorder that can manifest as hyperactivity, difficulty concentrating, inattention, or a combination. There is a well-known controversy about the frequency of the use of the drug Ritalin for treatment of behavior disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and hyperactivity. There is a strong tendency for doctors to diagnose a child as having ADHD, when in fact there may be other behavioral problems, or even nothing wrong with the child beyond merely normal childhood or teenage behavior. Because it is a behavioral disorder, ADHD is inherently difficult to diagnose. Part of the problem is that parents and teachers have been pressing for the particular drug, even before any attempt at medical diagnosis is made.

Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• Inattention
  • Poor attention span
  • Easily distracted
  • Failure to listen to instructions
  • Getting bored too easily

See full list of 33 symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder:

• Home Drug Tests
  • Home Marijuana Tests
  • Home Cocaine Tests
  • Home Alcohol Tests
  • Hair Drug Screening Tests
  • Methamphetamine Tests
  • Opiate Drug Tests
  • Benzodiazepine Drug Tests
  • Multiple Drug Screening Kits
• Smoking-Related Disorders: Home Testing:
  • Nicotine Home Tests
  • Home Lung Function Tests
• Cold & Flu: Home Testing:
  • Home Fever Tests
  • Home Ear Infection Tests
  • Home Flu Tests
• Mental Health: Home Testing:
  • Home Emotional Stress Tests

Medical Textbooks Online about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• Parent consultant
• Teacher consultation
• Psychological assessment
• Dietary changes - may possibly rule out certain food reactions.

Read more about tests for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Wrongly Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

• Misdiagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Failure to diagnose Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Underlying causes of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Failure to diagnose Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Misdiagnosis and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

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Read more about Misdiagnosis and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Causes of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Read more about causes of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

More information about causes of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder:

• Medications, drugs, or substances causing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (2 listings)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder as a complication caused by other conditions
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Treatments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• Lifestyle changes
  • Stress reduction
  • Diet changes - although perhaps of dubious value.
• Medications
  • Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

See full list of 19 treatments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Videos for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Patient Surveys for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
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Prognosis for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Prognosis for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: There is no "cure" for ADHD. Children with the disorder seldom outgrow it; however, some may find adaptive ways to accommodate the ADHD as they mature. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder Information Page: NINDS) ... Even though most people don't outgrow ADHD, people do learn to adapt and live fulfilling lives. (Source: excerpt from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: NIMH)

More about prognosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Reseach about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Visit our research pages for current research about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder treatments.

Statistics for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• Medical statistics for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Death and Mortality statistics for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Society statistics for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Types of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• Predominantly inattentive ADHD subtype
• Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive ADHD subtype
• Combined inattentive-hyperactive ADHD subtype

Read more about Types of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Medical Guidebooks and Ebooks for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• Icon Health Sourcebook for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

See all guides and ebooks for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

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Article Excerpts about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

NINDS Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder Information Page: NINDS (Excerpt)

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder that affects 3-5 percent of all American children. It interferes with a person's ability to stay on a task and to exercise age-appropriate inhibition (cognitive alone or both cognitive and behavioral). (Source: excerpt from NINDS Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder Information Page: NINDS)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): NWHIC (Excerpt)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) refers to a family of related chronic disorders that interfere with a person's capacity to have normal activity levels (hyperactivity), hold back on impulsive behavior (impulsivity), and focus on tasks (inattention) in developmentally correct ways. ADHD is a neurobiological disorder, meaning the problem affects brain function (thinking, learning and memory) and behavior. (Source: excerpt from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): NWHIC)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: NIMH (Excerpt)

Imagine living in a fast-moving kaleidoscope, where sounds, images, and thoughts are constantly shifting. Feeling easily bored, yet helpless to keep your mind on tasks you need to complete. Distracted by unimportant sights and sounds, your mind drives you from one thought or activity to the next. Perhaps you are so wrapped up in a collage of thoughts and images that you don't notice when someone speaks to you. (Source: excerpt from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: NIMH)

Definitions of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder:

A behavior disorder originating in childhood in which the essential features are signs of developmentally inappropriate inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Although most individuals have symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity, one or the other pattern may be predominant. The disorder is more frequent in males than females. Onset is in childhood. Symptoms often attenuate during late adolescence although a minority experience the full complement of symptoms into mid-adulthood. (From DSM-IV) - (Source - Diseases Database)

A condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders - (Source - WordNet 2.1)