Attention Deficit Disorder is a disease that is a type of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in which the symptoms associated with hyperactivity are moderate or weak.
This disorder provokes learning difficulties in children and performance problems in adults.
What it is?
Attention Deficit Disorder is a disease that is characterized by presence of concentration problems (it is difficult for a person to keep attention, he is restless, easily distracted), various behavioral disorders.
Most often observed in children.
Some children “outgrow” their own disease thanks to the timely help of medical specialists, but the rest symptoms persist.
Adults who suffer from ADD face many difficulties during work, they are often fired because the disease does not allow them to be productive.
They also have an increased risk of developing pathological addictions, such as drug addiction, alcoholism, and gambling. Therefore, it is important to start treatment for ADD as early as possible.
Different types of ADHD, including ADD, have about 4-18% of children and 3-5% of adults. ADHD is much more common in men than in women.
Despite the fact that the disease is included in the ICD, there are many experts who believe that ADHD does not exist. This view leads to the fact that not all children receive timely assistance.
In various sources, ADD may be called differently: attention span syndrome, attention deficit syndrome.
Causes in children and adults
Researchers so far did not reveal the exact reasons which lead to attention deficit disorder.
They identify several possible causes, the most well-known of which are:
- Genetic disorders. It is assumed that the child inherits defective genes from the parents, which lead to disruption of the metabolism of norepinephrine and dopamine.
This assumption is supported by the fact that medications that restore the normal metabolism of these neurotransmitters, show high performance in the treatment of attention deficit disorder.
- Complications of pregnancy and labor: maternal and child rhesus mismatch (hemolytic disease of the fetus), consequences of various infectious diseases (rubella, diphtheria, measles, chicken pox, influenza and others), acute toxicosis, eclampsia, too fast or too long delivery, traumatic injuries in childbirth and gestation, the adverse effects of drugs that the mother took during pregnancy.
- Harmful habits of the mother during pregnancy: smoking, regular use of alcoholic beverages, taking drugs.
- Traumatic head injuries in the first months of life. The most dangerous head injuries are those that were received in the first year of a child’s life, since they can wipe out his entire life. Therefore, it is very important for parents to monitor the child, especially when he has already begun to try to explore the world around him. It is important to remove all dangerous objects, and put softening pads on sharp corners.
- Complications after past infectious diseases. Long-lasting temperature above 39.5 degrees is potentially dangerous to the health of the child and is a factor that increases the likelihood of developing ADD. Meningitis caused by any infectious processes, and encephalitis also increase the risk.
- Unfavorable environmental conditions. Studies have shown the existence of a link between attention deficit disorder and the presence of toxic compounds (arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury) in a child’s hair. Therefore, accordingly, the risk of developing the disease increases if the pregnant woman lives in environmentally unfavorable areas.
- Insufficient intake of baby nutrients (vitamins, iodine, essential fatty acids, magnesium).
The systematic failure to obtain these substances leads to the appearance of various disorders in the brain and a general decrease in intelligence.
Symptoms similar to attention deficit disorder may occur in adulthood. Usually it is associated with:
- age-related changes in the brain;
- mental disorders (depression, delusions, dementia, the effects of severe stress, delirium, bipolar disorder);
- head injuries of various kinds (concussions, contusions, crush);
- neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system (Alzheimer's syndrome, Parkinson's disease, Pick's disease);
- the effects of infections;
- diseases of internal organs (both acute and chronic);
- side effects of some drugs.
According to studies, in 80% of cases diagnosis of ADHD and its varieties in adulthood may be erroneous, and symptoms have a direct connection with the above conditions.
Only in 20% of cases we are talking about ADHD, which was not detected in childhood.
A factor aggravating ADD is the toxic relationship in the family of the child.
Symptomatology
Main symptoms and signs of ADD in early childhood:
- Sleep disturbance The baby’s sleep is unstable, it often wakes up, cries, and falls asleep again with difficulty.
- Hypertonic muscle. The muscles of the infant are too tense; it is difficult for an adult to straighten his arms and fingers.
- Excessive sensitivity. The baby is sensitive to the slightest changes in the situation. Sounds, light provoke crying. Normally, babies, especially in the first two or three months of life, rarely react to minor stimuli.
- Regurgitation, frequent vomiting. There are no obvious reasons for vomiting.
The most notable attention deficit disorder becomes, when the child goes to school or is in the older group of kindergarten.
Quite often, the diagnosis is set during this period.
Even if parents notice ADD symptoms at an early age, they may attribute it to age-related features or not give it special meaning.
Symptoms of ADD in childhood:
- Difficulty concentrating. It is extremely difficult for a child to concentrate on something, he is easily interrupted in the process of playing or any other activity, he may be distracted by any irritant, restless. As a result, the tasks that should be completed remain abandoned, and school performance falls.
- Impulsiveness. A child with ADD makes decisions, responds spontaneously, without thinking how it should be, what exactly he does and whether he acts correctly, seeks to do everything as quickly as possible.
In independent works of such children there are often a lot of factual mistakes, and their handwriting is sloppy.
- Developmental delays Such children usually lag behind their peers in development, but this is not always noticeable while the child is small. This is most noticeable in late preschool and school age. Many children with ADD are extremely difficult to learn to read, write, count.
- Nervous tics, stereotypes. This is most noticeable when the child is in relative peace. For example, sitting on a chair, he can continuously jerk his legs and arms.
- Conflicts with peers. They arise because of the inability of children with ADD to follow instructions and concentrate on activities, as well as due to increased irritability, impulsivity, and inability to control themselves. For this reason, it is difficult for them to build friendships.
- Absent-mindedness A child may forget why he came to the room, it is difficult for him to memorize new information, he often loses things.
- Instability of attention. Such children quickly change activities without completing previous cases.
- Somatic manifestations. Children with ADD often complain of pain in the head, fatigue, they have sleep disturbances (difficulty in falling asleep, frequent waking due to minor effects, drowsiness). Many children suffer from enuresis and encopresis.
In adults with attention deficit syndrome, approximately the same symptoms are observed as in children, but usually in a less pronounced form.
The following problems are common.:
- mood swings, emotional instability;
- short temper, which regularly leads to conflicts;
- the desire to often change jobs;
- lack of productivity during work, inability to properly plan their own activities;
- difficulties in trying to build friendships and romance;
- distraction;
- frequent delays;
- talkativeness;
- constant mess at home;
- the inability to practice finances;
- difficulty trying to complete the job.
Employees with ADD often fired, because they do not show the desired performance and provoke conflicts.
Treatment
How to treat? The following are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of various types of ADHD the specialists:
- neurologist;
- psychiatrist;
- psychologist.
Symptoms characteristic of ADD should be observed in a person for at least six months, and only after that you can put diagnosis.
Also, in parallel, a person is directed to a number of studies that will eliminate other mental and somatic pathologies that can cause symptoms similar to ADD.
Treatment of children starts after diagnosis and includes:
- Changing the approach to learning. A child with ADD needs to receive a sufficient amount of attention from the teachers, so it needs to be transferred to an educational institution where emphasis is placed on an individual approach. Study load should be moderate.
If there is dysgraphia, dyslexia, and other similar disorders, the child should be sent to an educational institution where such disorders are corrected.
- Compliance with the daily regimen, adequate nutrition. The child needs to go to bed strictly at the same time and sleep at least 7-9 hours a day, be regularly in the fresh air, eat a balanced and full meal.
- Work with a psychologist and psychotherapist. In the process of work, children are taught to interact with others, help them cope with the difficulties associated with attention disorders, reduce anxiety.
- Medication correction. Prescribe drugs that improve cerebral circulation and restore normal neurotransmitter metabolism. It can also be assigned trace elements and vitamins (magnesium, vitamin B6). Medicines are not prescribed in all cases.
- Auxiliary methods. In some cases, children are shown holding courses of massage, acupuncture, exercise.
When treating ADD in adulthood the same methods are used: adherence to the daily regimen, adequate nutrition, classes with a psychologist and a psychotherapist, prescription of drugs.
If an adult has a pathological dependence on the background of ADD, it should be adjusted. This will help addiction treatment programs.
Prevention
The main preventive methods:
- creating conditions for healthy childbearing (preliminary examinations, vaccination of a woman before conception, giving up bad habits, living in ecologically safe areas, following all medical recommendations, adequate nutrition);
- child care (monitoring of their condition, timely treatment in medical institutions, vaccination, maintaining a daily regimen, and providing food containing the necessary amount of useful substances);
- going to the hospital if symptoms occurSimilar to ADD.
The likelihood of a child developing attention deficit disorder and other similar abnormalities decrease significantlyif parents will comply with at least some of the above recommendations.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - what does it mean? Find out about this from the video:
