Children With ADHD

Children can have ADHD even if they don't have all of the symptoms of ADHD. That is because there are several types of ADHD, including:

· ADHD, Inattentive Type - This includes those children who mostly have symptoms of inattention, such as not being able to pay attention to details, getting easily distracted, being forgetful, etc.

· ADHD, Hyperactive - Impulsive Type - Including those children who mostly have symptoms of hyperactivity and/or impulsivity, such as fidgeting a lot, having trouble staying in his seat, talking excessively, being on the go, interrupting others, having trouble waiting for his turn, etc.

· ADHD, Combined Type - The child has all of the major symptoms of ADHD.

The National Institute of Mental Health wrote an article in March 2008 that states that "There is little compelling evidence at this time that ADHD can arise purely from social factors or child-rearing methods. Most substantiated causes appear to fall in the realm of neurobiology and genetics. This is not to say that environmental factors may not influence the severity of the disorder, and especially the degree of impairment and suffering the child may experience, but that such factors do not seem to give rise to the condition by themselves."

This same article points out that the newest research available suggests that environmental agents, brain injury, and genetics are believed to play large roles in the cause of ADHD.

Some of the factors that scientists are looking at as to the cause of ADHD are:

Mother's use of drugs, alcohol, smoking and intake of other toxins while pregnant. Use of any of these or exposure to certain toxins results in an increased number of children with ADHD.

ADHD does tend to be hereditary in a lot of cases. According to the Mayo Clinic about one in four children with ADHD has a family member that also has the disorder.

Altered brain function: Scientists have discovered distinct differences in the brain functions of those with ADHD and those without ADHD. One of these differences is in the brains neurotransmitters. A person's brain with ADHD does not use these neurotransmitters properly. The Mayo Clinic also states that children with ADHD have 4% smaller brains than children without ADHD.

Childhood exposure to certain environmental toxins can play a role in a child developing ADHD.

According to the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry the following may be some of the signs a child will display if they have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder:

· Has trouble paying attention
· Has trouble sleeping
· Makes careless mistakes, no attention to details
· Easily distracted
· Has trouble finishing assignments at home and at school
· Has trouble listening
· Has trouble following multiple adult requests
· Is squirmy or fidgets a lot
· Cannot sit still, jumps out of seat to run or climb
· Seems "on the go" or "busy" all the time
· Talks a lot and interrupts others
· Has trouble playing quietly

According to the National Institute of Mental Health two to three percent of children have ADHD. This means that in a typical classroom at least one child is ADHD.

Russell Barkley, PhD has done extensive research on ADHD and ADD. Here is a summary of some of his findings:

· Boys are most likely to be diagnosed ADHD.

· 75% of boys with ADD are also hyperactive while 60% of girls with ADD are also hyperactive.

· 40 % of children with ADHD have a parent with ADHD.

· 50% of children with ADHD also have trouble sleeping.

· Children with ADHD develop 30% slower than non ADHD children.

· 65 % of children with ADHD have discipline problems.

· 25% of children with ADHD have a serious learning disability.

· One half of ADHD children have poor listening comprehension.

· Parents of a child with ADHD are three times as likely to divorce.

· Teens with ADHD have four times as many car accidents and have seven times as many second accidents.