Adhd - What Is It?

First let's get into what ADHD is. ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. In majority, most people are diagnosed with this as a child and continue to have to deal with the disorder throughout their lives. This does not mean that you cannot live a normal life. With correct treatment people with ADHD can have adequate success in their education and in their careers. ADHD is typically characterized by inattention impulsivity, and hyperactivity. There are two forms of ADHD; one form is focused on the inability to pay attention and the other deals with hyperactivity. How do you know which your son has? People that suffer with attention deficit disorder will exhibit: difficulty sustaining attention, will fail to give close attention to details or make simple mistakes, doesn't appear to listen, struggles to follow through on instructions, difficulty with organization, avoids or dislikes tasks requiring sustained mental effort, loses things frequently, easily becomes distracted, and forgetful in their daily activities.

Signs and symptoms of ADHD - HI (inattentive) are: fidgeting with hands, squirms and difficulty remaining seated, runs about and climbs excessively, difficulties in engaging activities quietly, acts as if driven by a motor, talks excessively, blurts answers out before a question is completed, has difficulty taking turns or waiting, and interrupts or intrudes on others.

For treatment of ADHD there are three possibilities: Medication, behavioral therapy, or combination of both. Medication commonly prescribed for ADHD patients is Methylphenidate, also known as Ritalin. It is a Central Nervous System stimulant that has similar effects to caffeine but less than amphetamines. These effects will increase dopamine, a neurotransmitter within the brain, which will improve one's attention and focus. Ritalin can be prescribed in either short acting (4hour duration) or long acting (12 hour duration), so it is possible to give your son a pill before he goes to school and he wouldn't have to run to the nurse during the day for an additional dose. Side effects of Ritalin are decreased appetite, insomnia and increased anxiety. These symptoms are related to the dosage someone is on and are easy to manage. . Your doctor will adjust the dosage until the targeted response is reached. Eighty percent of children prescribed Ritalin will need to remain medicated through their teen years and out of those 50% will need to be medicated as adults. Ritalin is not addictive when taken as a prescribed medication and in its proper dosage.

If you still feel uncomfortable about having your child taking a stimulant medication there is an alternative. This medication is called Stratera. In current studies Stratera suggests 70 percent of children with ADHD had significant improvement with their symptoms. No matter the outcome of your son on either of these medications, remember that the meds are prescribed to control the symptoms. Neither Ritalin nor Stratera are a cure for ADHD.

While the symptoms are being managed by