ADHD is a disorder that affects a person’s personal, organizational and project management skills and behavior. Most people find success with a combination of medication and behavior modification.
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ADHD Basics
ADHD is a brain-based disorder that affects 3 to 5 percent of preschool and school-age children, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. While people develop it before the age of seven, it often stays with them into adulthood. Read more to get a clear understanding of this condition.
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Types of ADHD: Hyperactivity, Inattention, and Impulsivity
Some people with ADHD have problems sitting still. Others with ADHD have trouble paying attention. A third group is those with who can’t sit still, have trouble paying attention and are impulsive. All of these people have ADHD. But, how can they all have the same condition when they act so differently? All three types of people may have serious problems focusing and concentrating when they are not interested in a topic. That is why they are seen as having ADHD. However, these attention problems result in very different behaviors. Read this article to learn about the three types of ADHD.
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ADHD and Executive Functions
If your child always forgets to turn in completed homework or has a backpack filled with a collection of old assignments and rotting lunches, he or she may be displaying difficulty with executive functions. Executive functions are brain-based cognitive skills that are crucial for goal setting and decision making.
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ADHD Symptoms
Think you or your child may have ADHD but aren’t sure? It can be difficult to tell the difference between symptoms from ADHD and those from other conditions. People with learning disabilities, seizures, anxiety, and depression can seem like they have ADHD. Furthermore, not everyone has the same symptoms. Start with an expert. Consult a doctor if you suspect that you or your child may have ADHD. There is not a test for the disorder, so doctors have to make a decision based on a number of different factors.
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Girls with ADHD
Girls with ADHD often do not have the obvious behavior problems seen in boys with ADHD, such as hitting and getting out of their seats. Instead, they sit quietly, rocking or fidgeting. They can be seen not paying attention to the lesson or to their work. A busy teacher could easily miss noticing this type of behavior. What can parents do? Parents should be alert to the first signs of learning or behavior problems in their daughters. These types of problems do not typically result in phone calls from teachers. Read this article to learn about the more subtle problems parents should look for in girls with ADHD.
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The ADHD Evaluation Process
ADHD can be very difficult to diagnose, especially in children, since its symptoms are common to many other conditions. And since there’s no blood test that says whether your child has ADHD or not, your healthcare provider will need as much information as possible from several different areas of your child’s life – including home and school – to be able to make a correct diagnosis. This article gives you an idea of some of the things a healthcare provider might ask when evaluating your child for ADHD.
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Faking ADHD
The reasons behind this strange trend are surprisingly complicated. Access to ADHD medications, whether for studying purposes or recreational use, is certainly one motivation. Another is the desire for special accommodations, such as extra time for tests or free tutoring services. In these cases, the faker sets out to consciously manipulate the system. The best way to rule out the possibility of faking (and to get the most accurate diagnosis, period) is to undergo ADHD testing with a cognitive specialist. To find one, ask your doctor or local hospital or consult organizations such as the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (www.add.org) and Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (www.chadd.org).
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Success with ADHD
ADHD is a disorder that affects a person’s personal, organizational and project management skills and behavior. Most people with ADHD find success with a combination of medication and behavior modification. Learning how to cope early on can help. A structured work, play, or school environment helps people with ADHD focus. In turn, this raises the odds that they will do well. This includes creating routines to deal with things you need to do every day. Just remember, routines and systems don’t work if you don’t stick to them. Also, try to work in a quiet place. Busy places can be distracting. With the right kind of support, kids and adults who have ADHD can be very successful both at school and at work.
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Improving Persistence in Kids and Adults with ADHD
Many people diagnosed with ADHD find it difficult to sustain their attention on tasks that do not interest them. Fortunately, there are strategies that can make boring tasks into something more interesting and potentially engage the persistence of kids and adults with ADHD.
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ADHD in a Managed Care Context
The majority of Americans with health insurance get their healthcare through managed care organizations (MCOs). Managed care is a healthcare system that coordinates and provides health benefits for its members. Health plans use tiers to encourage people to use more cost-effective versions of drugs. It is important to read any updates the MCO sends you or has posted on their website because formularies vary widely between health plans and change frequently. It is important to spend time understanding how the healthcare system works. Your benefits and coverage may change from time to time. Contact someone at your MCO office if you have questions about your member benefits.
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Conditions Associated with ADHD
Children with ADHD have an increased chance of having other difficulties as well. These include learning problems, emotional problems, and other mental health conditions. If one or more of these problems occur, call your child’s doctor for specific evaluation and treatment. It is important to keep in mind that treating ADHD can be more complicated and difficult when a child has other mental health problems along with ADHD.