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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( Adhd )

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ADHD is a disorder that affects both adults and children throughout the United States. It is actually one of the most common childhood disorders. I have actually witnessed people with this disorder and was interested on how differently they behave, what kind of treatment they need and how it is diagnosed. ADHD, also known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is one of the most common childhood disorders that can carry on through adolescence and adulthood (Thomas Insel, 2013). In 2011, 11% of children were diagnosed with ADHD in the United States and has increased every year by 3% from 1997 to 2006 (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). ADHD was originally called ADD which stands for attention deficit disorder but, was …show more content…

Many scientists are not sure on how ADHD caused. Most say this disease is genetic. One way genetics plays a role in ADHD is mainly located in the brain tissue which scientists claim, can appear thinner in the area of the brain that is used for attention. In some cases, a child can have ADHD but outgrow it as the brain begins to further develop into adulthood. Smoking and drinking while pregnant could have a possible link to ADHD. Also, children who are exposed to high levels of lead have a high risk of developing ADHD (WebMD, 2015). Lastly, another way a child can be diagnosed with ADHD is by head injury. Symptoms that can help identify as early as the age of 4. This is because around this age, children are able to be enrolled into school and they are able to notice if a child is especially active or impulsive if not both. When diagnosing ADHD, pediatricians look for 3 signs, inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Inattention is when the child is; easily distracted, has difficulty focusing, daydream, or cannot seem to listen, just to name a few(Thomas Insel, 2013). Hyperactivity is when; the child talks nonstop, squirm in their seats, are able to play or touch anything and everything in their sight, have trouble sitting still, have a lot of energy and are unable to do quiet activities (Thomas Insel, 2013). Lastly, impulsivity is when; the children are very impatient, interrupt conversations, and are inappropriate with their emotions and actions (Thomas

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