Attention-Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder According to the American Psychiatric Association Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD) is now referred to as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD. However, most lay people and some professionals will still refer to the condition as ADD, which are the names given to the condition in 1980. ADHD has been around for a longer period than most people actually recall or realize. Hippocrates, who lived from 460 to 370 BC, described a condition similar to ADHD. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorder where there are substantial problems with executive functions that cause hyperactivity, attention deficits, or impulsiveness, which is inappropriate for the person's age. In order for a diagnosis to be made for the condition, the symptoms of ADHD must persist for six months or more. According to (McGoey et al., 2014), they define ADHD as a condition that causes a person to have trouble focusing on tasks and paying attention, they tend to act without thinking, and they would have trouble sitting still. The condition might begin in early childhood, and will most probably continue into adulthood. It is estimated that about 30-50% of the children diagnosed with ADHD will continue to demonstrate the symptoms into adulthood, and about 2-5% of adults will have the condition. The exact cause of ADHD is still unknown, but research is still ongoing to establish the causes. It has also been established that it tends to run in the family. ADHD causes impairment especially in modern society, but many children will have a good attention span for activities they find interesting. According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that there are around 39 million people who are affected by ADHD as of 2013. When the condition is diagnosed using the DSM-IV criteria it is estimated that the condition affects 6-7% of children, but when the ICD-10 criteria is used it affects about 1-2% of children. There has not been any indicators to illustrate differences between different countries. Therefore, the disease is not dependent on the geographical placement of the individual. There are three subtypes of ADHD namely predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, predominantly inattentive, and combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive (Roberts, Martel, & Nigg, 2013).

Symptoms of ADHD

Any child can have trouble paying attention and be fidgety, but a child with ADHD will have these symptoms to a point where they become a distraction in the classroom and at home. There are three primary symptoms of ADHD hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsiveness. Inattention is not easily noted in children until they go to school. In adults, the disorder can be easily noticed in social situations or workplace. An individual suffering from ADHD, will procrastinate, fail to complete tasks, or will frequently move from one uncompleted task to another (Gudjonsson, Sigurdsson, Sigfusdottir, & Young, 2012). The individual will lack focus, be disorganized, have trouble staying on topic while they talk, fail to listen to others, not follow social rules, and they can be easily distracted by trivial things that others would ignore. Hyperactivity might vary with age, but it is noticeable in preschoolers. Toddlers and preschoolers suffering from ADHD will tend to constantly be on the move, jumping on furniture, and have trouble taking part in group activities that require them to sit still. For example, they would have a hard time listening to a story. School going children would have the same habits as the toddlers, but one would not notice them quite often. The child would not stay seated, talk a lot, squirm, or fidget. For teens, hyperactivity would show up as feelings of restlessness. The teens would also not manage to perform quiet activities that require them to sit still. Impulsivity would demonstrate itself in terms of the child knocking over objects or constantly banging into people. Children with ADHD would do risky things without thinking about the consequences and end up putting themselves in danger.

ADHD can affect an individual of any intellectual ability. However, it is mostly common in individuals who have learning difficulties. People suffering from ADHD will have additional problems like anxiety and sleep disorders. It is possible for the symptoms of ADHD to be noticed at an early age, but they would be more noticeable when the child's circumstances change, like when they begin school (Harold et al., 2013). A majority of ADHD cases are diagnosed between ages 6 and 12 in children. ADHD symptoms will improve over time as the individual grows, but most adults diagnosed with ADHD at a young age will continue experiencing problems.

Diagnosis

ADHD is diagnosed using assessments...

The assessment would also include ruling out drug effects, medications, and other psychiatric problems. Most ADHD diagnoses would begin when the teacher raises concern regarding the child's behavior. A licensed mental health professional would conduct the evaluation, and they would require feedback from teachers and parents. It should be understood that no single test could diagnose a child or an adult as having ADHD. ... posits that imaging studies of the brain do not offer consistent results amongst individuals. Therefore, the images are only used for research and not diagnosing the condition. The DSM-IV criteria is mainly used in North America while the ICD-10 criteria is used in the European countries. A diagnosis of ADHD is more likely to occur when using the DSM-IV criteria than when using the ICD-10 criteria. ADHD is classified as a conduct disorder, disruptive behavior disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. A diagnosis of ADHD does not imply the individual has a neurological disorder.
For a proper diagnosis of ADHD, the specialist will pay close attention to the child's or individual's behavior in different situations. Some of the situations would be highly structures and some less structured. This will assist the specialist to determine if the child is suffering from stress-related conditions or ADHD. Some of the analysis situation would require the child to keep constant attention. One should be aware that most children suffering from ADHD would manage to control their behaviors in a situation where they are receiving individual attention or when they are allowed to focus on an enjoyable activity. For the assessment, this situation would be less important. A child could be evaluated to establish how they act in social situations, and they might be given a test that would test their academic achievement and intellectual ability in order to rule out a learning disability. Finally, the child would be diagnosed with ADHD if they meet all the criteria's after the information is gathered.

For adults suspected of suffering from ADHD, a wider range of symptoms would be considered during the assessment. This is because adult symptoms are not as clear-cut as those of children. In order to diagnose an adult with ADHD, they must have symptoms that began when they were children and continued throughout their adulthood. Most health professionals will use specific rating scales to establish if the adult meets the ADHD diagnostic criteria. The specialist will analyze the individual's history of childhood behavior, and will interview spouses or parents. The individual will have to undergo various psychological tests and a physical exam. A diagnosis of ADHD brings a sense of relief for some adults. Adults who have lived with the disorder since childhood, but were never diagnosed might have developed negative feelings over the years. Therefore, receiving a diagnosis offers them a reason for their problems and a better understanding of the disorder. Undergoing treatment would enable them to deal effectively with their problems.

Treatment

Research has shown that there is no cure for ADHD, but the condition can be managed effectively using appropriate educational support, and advice. Medications are the first line of treatment offered to adults suffering from ADHD. It should be noted that treatment does not eliminate the negative outcomes of ADHD, but it does improve the long-term outcomes. Most treatment objective will include behavior therapy and medications. The medications of ADHD may cause side effects like headaches, twitches, loss of appetite, or problems sleeping. Therefore, parents should closely watch over the children when they begin using the medications. In most cases, the side effects will get better within a few weeks of consuming the drugs. However, if the side effects do not improve the parents should speak to their doctor in order to have the dosage lowered. Antshel, Faraone, and Gordon (2012) posit behavior therapy is aimed at improving the child's behavior, and it focuses on changing the child environment. Often, extra support at home and counseling would assist the child to succeed academically and they would better about themselves.

About 20-30% of the children would suffer from learning problems, which would not be assisted by ADHD treatment. According to0020Fabiano et al. (2009), there is good evidence to encourage the use of behavioral therapies especially for children, which is the first line of treatment for ADHD. Although there is little research to demonstrate the effectiveness of family therapy, studies have shown that it is better than placebo, and it is similar to community care. Children are…