Healthy Vibe takes a look at a largely misunderstood condition.
A lot of us may have heard of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but very few of us understand what it really is.
What is ADHD?
People who suffer from ADHD have trouble concentrating on things like school work or when there’s lots going on around them. The main symptoms of ADHA are difficulty concentrating, impulsiveness, impatience and hyperactivity.
It’s important to remember that ADHD is a behavioural disorder, not a mental illness. Sufferers don’t mean to be noisy or troublesome ” they just find it hard to stay still and keep quiet. Despite this, their behaviour can cause lots of problems at home and at school.
ADHD sufferers can feel out of control, isolated or lonely. Many people with ADHD can also have very low self-esteem. They can have trouble keeping up at school, and may even end up dropping out, which can mean problems finding a good job in the future.
What causes it?
It’s not know what causes ADHD, but it’s believed to have something to do with how the front part of the brain works, which makes the sufferer deal with information and emotions in a different way.
It’s important to remember that we all have trouble concentrating sometimes, and children tend to have short attention spans. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they are suffering from ADHD.
Can it be treated?
A proper diagnosis can only be made after a thorough and complex assessment by a doctor, child psychologist or paediatrician (child doctor).
ADHD can be managed through a combination of education, learning new ways of behaving and medication. Sufferers need to be closely supervised by a doctor, and need the support of their family, friends and teachers.
People generally get better at controlling their behaviour as they get older, so usually problems associated with ADHD become less marked as they get older.
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