ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder)

ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder)

Name of the Student

Instructor’s Name

Course Title

Date of Submission

According to the CDC (2016), about 6.5 million teens and children between the ages of 4 to 17 years in the United States have been diagnosed with ADHD. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a chronic condition. It consists of attention difficulty, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. It is caused by the interaction between environmental influences, changes in brain development, and genes. Teens with this disorder are likely to display difficulties such as poor academic achievement, low self-esteem, poor peer relationships, among others. Moreover, youths with the disease are expected to start using drugs because of depressions and anxiety experienced. This disease usually lasts to adulthood since no medicine can cure it thoroughly, and individuals have to rely on behavior-modifying drugs. Families from different backgrounds view the symptoms of ADHD differently, with most of the families ignoring signs by claiming they are just healthy behaviors.

A parent may fail to notice symptoms early in advance because children often manifest normal behaviors such as trouble focusing and behaving. Symptoms of ADHD begin to be seen when these behaviors persist as the child ages. If these behaviors continue, it can be detrimental to the child’s academic performance and even in interactions with friends and family. Some of the symptoms include:

• Daydreaming
• Losing things and forgetting
• Being talkative
• Being reckless/ making careless mistakes and taking unnecessary risks
• Fidgeting
• Struggling to avoid the temptation
• Having trouble socializing

ADHD has three types, which are categorized in terms of which symptoms are strongest. The types include;

• A predominantly inattentive presentation, which is characterized by symptoms such as inability to organize a given task, inability to grasp details such as instructions. They are easily distracted, which explains why they tend to forget easily (CDC, 2016).
• Predominantly Hyperactive-impulsive presentation is characterized by symptoms such as fidgeting, and the individual is likely to be talkative. People with this type of ADHD do not stick in one place for long. For smaller children, the behavior is displayed when children run, jump, or climb repeatedly. Impulsivity is common in people suffering from this type of ADHD since they are likely to interrupt others and speak at inappropriate times(CDC, 2016). They find it hard taking turns while talking. Moreover, this type poses a lot of danger to those who are suffering from it since they are likely to have more accidents and injuries than other people.
• A combined presentation is characterized by symptoms of both predominantly inattentive presentation and predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation.

In an effort to diagnose and reduce the chances of a person having ADHD, scientists are researching the causes and risk factors associated with the disease. The cause of ADHD has not yet been realized; however, some risk factors have been identified. These risk factors include;

• Exposure to environmental toxins such as lead which is mostly found in paint
• Use of alcohol and cigarettes while pregnant
• Premature birth
• Having a relative who has ADHD or other mental health problem
• Brain injury

The myth that sugar is responsible for causing hyperactivity is not true since there is no reliable proof to support that argument.

Some conditions that may result from ADHD include autism spectrum disorder, conduct disorder, substance use disorder, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, learning disability, and Tourette syndrome.

Determining whether a given child has ADHD takes several steps. There is no single test to determine whether a given child has ADHD since their symptoms are common in other conditions such as depression, anxiety, and sleeping problems. One of the steps in determining whether a given child has ADHD is by conducting medical tests, which include hearing and vision tests so that the doctor can rule out possibilities of other health conditions (Muscari & Ngo, 2017). Moreover, the doctor needs to know the ratings of the ADHD symptoms. The child’s parents provide a history of the symptoms. Teachers can provide more information about the symptoms

.

The objective measure of diagnosis requires the researcher to have a sample consisting of several children and adults diagnosed with ADHD, which is then matched with people who completed subjective measures. A particular recognition approach is used to predict diagnosis. Using both subjective and objective measures can help in increasing the degree of accuracy in the diagnosis of ADHD (NHS, 2020). Subjective variables are the foundation for making a reasonable judgment whether a given individual has ADHD or not.

Assessment of ADHD using ratings and test relies on the information provided by different parties. The use of this subjective measure makes it possible for errors of information bias. Clinicians often face challenges resulting from inconsistencies in ratings due to different sources of information. Objective measures can result in more reliable data.

Preventing a child from contracting ADHD requires measures such as avoiding alcohol during pregnancy, protecting children from exposure to toxins and pollutants such as lead paint and cigarette smoke, and limiting exposure to laptops, televisions, and video games.

ADHD is mostly treated using both behavior therapy and medication (Muscari & Ngo, 2017). For children with ages between 4 to 5 years, parents are trained on behavior therapy to help them in controlling their behavior before medication is tried. To make treatment successful follow-ups, close monitoring, and making are necessary. Behavior therapy includes the following:

• Stressing on healthy eating habits which consist of plenty of fruits, whole grains, and vegetables
• Physical exercises
• Reducing the time a child spends on computers, televisions, or phones.
• Recommending a reasonable amount of time to sleep

Children and adults who have ADHD receive stimulants as their medication. There are specific stimulant medications called Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulants. These stimulants are meant to increase the concentration of norepinephrine and dopamine hormones in the brain. The increase in the concentration of these hormones reduces fatigue and improves concentration. Many stimulants have been developed which are preferred by insurance companies. There are different categories of stimulants. These categories include amphetamines, methamphetamine, and Methylphenidate ( Imboden  & Fehr, 2018).

The Amphetamines category includes stimulants such as amphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, and dextroamphetamine. However, these stimulants come with several brands, and it is upon the individual who has ADHD to determine which type to take depending on the contents of the drug. Methamphetamine is also referred to as Desoxyn. It is related to amphetamine and ephedrine. It stimulates the central nervous system like the other drugs. However, this drug may cause negative effects on users like an increase in blood pressure and loss of appetite. This drug is usually prescribed to be taken once per day. Methylphenidate, on the other hand, works by increasing the level of hormones in the brain, just like the other drugs. It is usually an oral drug, and it comes with several brand names. There, however, exists non-stimulants. The first non-stimulant was approved in 2003. They have fewer side effects compared to stimulants. Moreover, they can last up to 24 hours once ingested. However, Strattera has a warning on its package since teens who use the drug are likely to develop suicidal thoughts.The most common non-stimulants include Strattera and intuniv (Emser et al. 2018).

The most common side effects resulting from the use of ADHD medication include loss of appetite, weight loss, loss of sleep, social withdrawal, and growth delay. However, in some stimulants, some side effects do not exist. The side effects can, however, be minimized by changing the dosage, adjusting schedules for medication, trying a non-stimulant, and using different stimulants. Treatment of ADHD is based on the assumption that brain chemistry can be modified to improve the behavior of the person suffering from the disease (Imboden & Fehr, 2018).

Understanding the signs and symptoms of ADHD and noticing them early in advance is the first step in the first step in helping those who are suffering from ADHD. The family and other stakeholders who are involved with children who have ADHD need to understand the specific care that should be accorded to children suffering from the disease. Health care facilities should promote family and patient-centered approaches in health care for those who have ADHD. Moreover, encouraging those suffering from the disease to seek help from mental health services is a good step.

References

CDC. (2016). What is ADHD?. Retrieved 1 May 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html

Emser, T. S., Johnston, B. A., Steele, J. D., Kooij, S., Thorell, L., & Christiansen, H. (2018). Assessing ADHD symptoms in children and adults: evaluating the role of objective measures. Behavioral and Brain Functions, 14(1), 11.

Imboden, A. D., & Fehr, K. K. (2018). Collaborative Care of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: An Innovative Partnership to Serve Rural Pediatric Patients. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 32(6), 584-590.

Muscari, M., & Ngo, H. M. M. (2017). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The Encyclopedia of Juvenile Delinquency and Justice, 1-5.

NHS. (2020). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – Symptoms. Retrieved 1 May 2020, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/symptoms/