O.K. I've heard it a hundred times from my prison guard friends, "I don't believe that there is such a thing as ADD. It's only something made up from the drug companies to drug our children." They know because they read an article in a magazine, or saw a show on TV once. I guess they also believe in aliens in government, and that Elvis still lives somewhere in Oklahoma.
Look, there are lots of physical differences between the actual brains of people with ADD and those who don't have it, and there are also functional differences in the way that their brains work. And there are lots of scientists and physicians who are investing lots of time and money into identifying and writing about those differences. Just because their research is too boring to make the Morning Show on TV doesn't mean that it doesn't exist, or isn't true.
The Functional Differences include studies with EEGs, Q-EEGs, CPTs, psychological testing, and "functional" MRIs (fMRI). They showed differences in activation levels of various areas of the brain, differences in brainwave patterns, and differences in glucose metabolism (as measure of brain work load) between ADHD subjects and non-ADHD subjects. They also showed the ADD ADHD groups to have poorer performance on timed tasks, slower reaction time, slower processing times, lower problem solving abilities, less fine motor control, less gross motor control, differences in evoked potentials, and problems with inhibition, as compared to the controls.
The Structural Differences include studies with MRIs, PET scans, and SPECT scans. They show subtle structural differences in the prefrontal cortex (smaller right anterior frontal cortex, and less white matter in the right frontal lobes which cause problems with sustained or focused attention), caudate nucleus (asymmetries which cause problems with self-control), and globus pallidus. They also show that the right hemisphere of the ADHD brain is, on average, 5% smaller than the control groups. They also show differences in blood flow in certain parts of the brain, as well as specific chemical abnormalities in ADHD subjects.
The studies on Essential Fatty Acid levels in ADHD subjects vs. non-ADHD subjects are interesting. The ADHD groups had significantly lower concentrations of key essential fatty acids than did the control groups, and about 40% of the ADHD group showed signs of EFA deficiency (increased thirst, frequent urination, dry skin, and dry hair). Low levels of Omega 6 EFAs contributed to higher incidents of illness (colds, flu, etc.), and deficits in Omega 3 EFAs contributed to problems with learning, behavior, sleep, and temper. These studies support the case for EFA supplementation as a part of the overall treatment approach to ADHD.
Genetic Studies on Attention Deficit Disorder show gene alterations that may contribute to ADHD in some children. They are especially looking at the DRD4 dopamine receptor gene. Familial Genetic Studies show that Attention Deficit Disorder runs in families. For example, a child with an older sibling with ADHD is 300% to 500% more likely to himself have Attention Deficit Disorder than is a child without ADHD siblings. Twin studies and Adoption studies are also included.
Is your head spinning yet? I hope so.
ADHD is a real disorder with a neurological basis. It impacts about 5% of the population in America, so it is a very real problem for a lot of people. Stop trying to make it into a myth or an excuse. It is a condition that can be treated, improved, helped, and overcome with the proper interventions. To learn more about ADHD visit the adhd information library.
Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library's family of seven web sites, including adhd information library, helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carThe biggest complaint you hear from parents about their children... Read More
I have always been aware of my number one weakness:... Read More
Here are some tips that I have picked up from... Read More
Public-school teaching is structured in such a way that it... Read More
It can be difficult on all family members to have... Read More
Many children enjoy TV, and they can learn from it.... Read More
Public education in the United States has never been equal... Read More
Late vs. Too LateEvery now and then, I'll hear a... Read More
There's a new kind of fun and calm out there... Read More
Choosing a baby name is an important job, so make... Read More
Would you like your child to be the best that... Read More
Parents, do you have children who do poorly in school,... Read More
Sitting by her Pinocchio lamp, she smiled at me as... Read More
Chiladult? Whatever you call them, teenagers are a changin' and... Read More
Many years ago, my children were raised on the various... Read More
Does the homework battle so typical with your hyperactive or... Read More
I'll never forget my first lesson in a glider.I'd been... Read More
"Home Schooling ? Look Before You Leap"Are you considering home... Read More
How in the world do you get your child to... Read More
On a bright Sunday morning, a couple of weeks ago,... Read More
Although many parents become frustrated as they try to maintain... Read More
I WAS AMAZEDI could hardly believe what I was hearing.... Read More
Do you praise your child when he fulfils a basic... Read More
Do you remember how you first learned the alphabet? I... Read More
It used to strike me as odd - but really,... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..I have always been aware of my number one weakness:... Read More
Your child's teacher says that you need to find out... Read More
As our children grow, they will be going to schools... Read More
Children explore the world around them and learn through pretend... Read More
As a hypnotherapist, I am acutely aware of the power... Read More
Assuming there are no serious motor problems present, what can... Read More
Get into their world. The world that teens are growing... Read More
Is Homework Really That Important?Dear Friends,I no longer teach in... Read More
You may think once your child has gone off to... Read More
I was changing Ford's diaper the other day when he... Read More
The Real Dangers to Kids Online and How to Avoid... Read More
Since so many would rather avoid the use of stimulant... Read More
Sitterphobe "I never have a second to myself," this mother... Read More
Teachers know that children thrive in an environment with routines,... Read More
Chaim Ginott was a schoolteacher whose ideas and observations helped... Read More
It's no surprise that the self-image and self-esteem of overweight... Read More
You're trying to catch up on some sleep on a... Read More
Something eerily familiar happened in KwaZulu-Natal's Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park in Africa... Read More
the woes of being a parent of an ADHD child.....Like... Read More
When parents help their children learn to read, they help... Read More
"Just turn the lights off and go to sleep"Do you... Read More
Whenever parents discuss how to deal with bed wetting, the... Read More
Prenatal intelligence, also known as fetal intelligence, has become a... Read More
Until about the age of six, children do not generally... Read More
Be sure to respect the intellectual changes that mark adolescence.... Read More
Parenting |