ADHD

Author: Laith Jadallah, Yr 12

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or more commonly known as ADHD is a mental

disorder that affects an individual’s ability to sustain their focus. A lot of the time, ADHD is

not diagnosed until a person reaches adulthood.

The symptoms of ADHD such as being impulsive, lack of attention, or even hyperactivity can be caused by other stimuli, so doctors must rule out that possibility before concluding that a child or an adult has ADHD. The doctor will go through a list of things that will help him decide whether or not the patient has ADHD, for example, If their symptoms affect their ability to conduct their school work if they are a child or their jobs if they are an adult or If these symptoms have been prominent since childhood or throughout childhood.

ADHD is most commonly treated through medication. ADHD medication target the brain

chemicals norepinephrine and dopamine. These two chemicals control a person’s

concentration. There are two categories for ADHD medication. Stimulants and Non-

stimulants. Stimulants include names such as Concerta and Ritalin (methylphenidates), and names like Adderall and Vyvanse (amphetamines). They can be either short or long-acting depending on the time needed for the patient to stay focused. Non-stimulants are a long-term option that take a few weeks to fully become useful, but in return they activate a person’s ability to concentrate for 24 hours instead of a given period of time. ADHD can also be treated through the consultation of a therapist who guides people (commonly children) through the further development of social skills.

In various studies, brain scans have been carried out to prove that people with ADHD have certain parts of their brains that are smaller than people without ADHD. Other studies talk about how people with ADHD have slightly dysfunctional brain chemicals (Norepinephrine and Dopamine) that require the aid of medication. Although there are various studies that talk about the differences in brain activity and structure, the difference is still quite unclear.

People who were prematurely born or who were born under the average birthweight.

When children are born before 37 weeks, they might have slight brain development issues. People who suffer from epilepsy are also at risk of ADHD. The medication prescribed to epileptic patients can contribute to the ADHD symptoms. Head injuries can also bring symptoms of ADHD to life as it disrupts brain activity and may complicate the functionality of the brain chemicals used for concentration and attention

It is commonly thought that ADHD runs through families and genes that are inherited play a major role in the development of ADHD in most cases. Close relatives of people with ADHD such as children, parents or siblings are most likely to have the condition too.

ADHD is a condition people have to live with for their whole lives. In a lot of cases, people

don’t even realize they have it until they reach adulthood. People either learn to live with it or they do not develop a routine (medication or therapy-wise) that helps them get on with their lives with ADHD.

ADHD can get in the way of learning as it affects focus and causes hyperactivity and

impulsiveness, however it Is factually not classified as a learning disability. Disabilities can be present along-side ADHD in a person, which is probably the main reason people may think this.

ADHD is fully recognized by many medical institutions and organizations as a medical

condition such as The American Psychiatric Association and The National Institutes of

Health. It is a part of millions of people’s lives around the world both children and adults.