ADHD
by Kyle Hernon
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a learning disorder that can affect how a person focuses, how organized they are, or how hyper a person is. Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder is a condition that affects children and adults worldwide.
Body Systems Affected
ADHD affects the central nervous system.
Who is Affected
This disorder affects children and adults worldwide. Of September 4th, 2014, 6.4 million children have been diagnosed with ADHD in the United Stares. This disorder is found in males and females, but is mostly found in males. You tend to be born with ADHD, but most cases are diagnosed before teenage years. Race also does not have an effect on who has ADHD.
Normal Function vs ADHD Function
A normal brain has a small amount of hyperactivity throughout the day along with fair patience, good focus, being able to sit still for long periods of time, ect. However, in an ADHD brain, the person tends to have a low level of the neurotransmitter dopamine, creating the ADHD symptoms.
Onset
Scientists and researchers believe that ADHD is caused by genetics.
Symptoms
- Difficulty paying attention
- Trouble focusing
- Trouble following instructions
- Struggling to follow through
- Forgetting or losing things
- Being easily distracted
- Hard time paying attention to detail
- Making careless mistakes
- Trouble organizing
- Restlessness
- Difficulty waiting their turn
- Interrupting
- Blurting out and finishing other people's sentences
- Fidgeting
- Trouble doing things quietly
Diagnosis
To diagnose ADHD in a child, you have to show the symptoms of ADHD for the last 6 months, and have completed evaluation forms from teachers and parents that show positive signs of the disorder. The evaluation forms then have to be sent through the school and to a guidance counselor. The majority of the different forms have to be approved by a doctor and then sent to a counselor.
Treatment
The treatment for ADHD is to prescribe medication such as Ritalin to stimulate the brain and counter the brain's hyperactivity. They also use counseling to talk through and help develop the brain's understanding of how to help patients learn about their brain's and what the disorder does to it.
Mortality
ADHD itself will not kill you, but the symptoms of this disorder may. ADHD can cause you to make rash decisions, or depression may cause suicide, or drug and alcohol problems.
Connections
I chose ADHD because my cousin has it and I wanted to learn about it. There are also many famous people with ADHD including Justin Timberlake, Jamie Oliver, Jim Carrey, Terry Bradshaw, Paris Hilton and many others.
Citations
Works Cited
"Data & Statistics." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 Dec. 2014. Web. 18 Jan. 2015.
Rothenberger, Aribert, Et Al. "Informing The ADHD Debate." Scientific American Special Edition 17.2 (2007): 36. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 21 Jan. 2015
Rothenberger, Aribert, Et Al. "Informing The ADHD Debate." Scientific American Special Edition 17.2 (2007): 36. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 21 Jan. 2015.
"TeensHealth." ADHD. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2015.
"What Causes ADHD/ADD: Genetics, Lifestyle, Environment, Prenatal Care." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2015. "Slideshow: ADHD/ADD in Adults -- Symptoms & Treatments." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2015.