The Definition of Add

The Definition of ADD

By:

Katelyn Koslosky

For:

ENGL 01-101-92, CRN # ENGLISH COMPOSITION

I

SPRING 2012

Essay # Definition

Instructor: Professor Viddy

Delaware State University

April 25, 2012

Attention Deficit Disorder, known as ADD, is a syndrome which children and adults are commonly diagnosed with. It is characterized by a persistent pattern of impulsiveness, short attention span, and hyper activity which often interferes with academic, occupational, and social performance. ADD happens to be the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder of children and is more common in boys than girls. It is usually discovered during the early schooling years when a child starts to have trouble paying attention. ADD can continue into the teen years and on into adulthood. I, myself, was diagnosed with the disorder in eighth grade and it has been a major obstacle in my life ever since.

In a child's case of ADD, there are three groups of different symptoms. First, there is the Inattention type, which symptoms include: easily distracted, doesn't follow directions or finish tasks, and doesn't appear to be listening when being spoken to, makes careless mistakes, forgetful of daily activities, trouble organizing daily tasks, often loses things, and has the tendency to day dream. For the Hyperactivity type, symptoms include: squirms or fidgets, can't stay still or seated, difficulty keeping quiet, and talks excessively. Lastly, for the Impulsivity type, symptoms include: difficulty waiting for one's turn, blurts out answers before the question is fully asked, and often interrupts others. However, in cases of adult ADD, symptoms can get very serious and life altering. Symptoms include: chronic lateness and forgetfulness, anxiety, low self-esteem, employment problems, difficulty controlling anger, impulsiveness or restlessness, substance abuse or addiction, poor organization skills, procrastination, low frustration tolerance, chronic boredom, difficulty concentrating when reading, mood swings, depression and relationship problems.

The exact cause of ADD is not known although researchers continue to study the brain for clues. They suspect that there are several factors that may contribute to the condition. They include: heredity, a chemical imbalance of brain chemicals, brain changes