Attention Deficit Disorder - Term Paper Example

Attention Deficit Disorder Attention Deficit Disorder is a common condition in the society, which is also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and is characterized by loss of attention in one’s activities (Pellow 324). In addition, it involves affected individuals being overly active in the activities they participate. The prevalence of then disorder has become commonplace in today’s society creating a need to analyze it in its aspects of cause, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and diagnosis. Attention deficit disorder can be caused by a number of factors that are related to the condition concerning chemicals and other reactions in the said individual. ADD can be caused by genetic influences, which is the most common cause in children. In this regard, a child with ADD is expected to have had a relative who suffered from the said condition. With this is in mind, it is linked with the production of the chemical dopamine in the brain, where people with attention Deficit Disorder tend to produce lower levels of dopamine as compared to those without the condition. Nutrition also appears to have a hand in the condition following the components found in the foods that an individual consumes. As such, components such as food additives and sugar are known to cause considerable effects on the behavior of individual, where they are believed to aggravate the condition (Kanarek 386). With this in mind, refined sugars are believed to be one of the primary causes of ADD, although there is little research information to support it. However, altering the intake of refined sugars in an individual suffering from ADD seems to work towards affecting the behavior of an individual positively, in reducing their hyperactivity. Still on nutrition, there are links between ADD and lack of Omega-3 fatty acids leading to symptoms of ADD. This is because fats are regarded crucial for brain growth and development. Therefore, lack of the said fatty acids, research supports, has a profound effect on developmental disorders of which ADD is one. On the other hand, the environment is not left out following strong links between environmental aspects and ADD. Exposures to certain environmental factors, which include smoking and lead exposure, are suggested to lead to ADD. As a result, they are known to lead to teratogenic effects to unborn children in-utero of pregnant mothers if exposed. Symptoms Symptoms of ADD affect the cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and social functionality of the affected individual (Pellow 323). The symptoms do not develop suddenly, but over an extended period such as several months. One of the most common symptoms is the lack of attention and is overtly observable (Reilly and Holland 297). The above-mentioned symptom is usually not the first, but appears after a series of other symptoms are observed. Moreover, it can be called, as more of a resultant of the other symptoms, which marks the on-set of the condition. However, the symptoms vary widely from one individual to the other based on their situations and individual differences such as the given demands it takes to put the affected individual under control. Symptoms of the condition also vary based on the subtypes of the condition that one is suffering from, as there are three main ones. These include ADD inattentive, ADD hyperactive-impulsive and ADD combined, where the symptoms for each are different with bits and pieces of similarities. For the inattentive kind, the person suffers from a short attention span, where they get easily distracted. They also make careless mistakes, are forgetful to the point of being unable to stick to a given task that is tedious, and time consuming. On the other hand, those that have ADD hyperactive-impulsive tend to have the inability to stay still in a calm and quiet manner. They also fidget contently with excess talking and physical movement. All this is while those that suffer from ADD combined get the symptoms of both hyperactivity and impulsiveness, which is the most common subtype of the disorder. After all this, the earlier mentioned lack of attention and hyperactivity can be observed, which marks the on-set of the disorder. Diagnosis The disorder, ADD, has been largely misdiagnosed and inadequately treated according to statistics on individuals with intellectual disability (Reilly and Holland 292). There is not a single, simple test to allow the diagnosis of the condition; thus, the best way to find out the presence or existence of the condition is to collect as much information s possible on the individual in question. This includes the symptoms that one can observe and the behavior of the said individual prior to visiting a general practitioner or doctor, lest a misdiagnosis is done due to poor information and lack of appropriate details. For proper diagnosis, a complete medical exam is necessary in order to rule out the presence of other disorders and or conditions that may share similar symptoms as ADD. These conditions include learning or language problems, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, seizure disorders, sleep disorders and thyroid medication among others. The symptoms are crucial in diagnosis, as for them to be used they must have a significant impact on the quality of life of the individual in question and have been present for an extended period prior to diagnosis. Quality of life in this case refers to functional impairment brought on by the symptoms in the social, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive aspects of life. The common misdiagnosis of the disorder is due to the presence of the other mentioned conditions with similar symptoms and lack of adequate information on the symptoms that the individual suffers from, as well as lack of standard tests for the diagnosis of the condition. This is because there is not a single known or defined test to tell of the presence of ADD in a child or an adult, thus the over-reliance on symptoms and medical tests for trial and error methods. Treatment ADD, once diagnosed is treated through a number of treatments that involve the use of medication and behavioral accommodations. There is not a known cure for the disorder, but means of suppressing the symptoms and regulating behavior do exist. However, despite the use of medication, there are adverse effects that many, especially parents, are worried about, thus the need to seek alternative treatments that do not involve pharmacology. Medications are used to regulate behavior and are administered at certain times of the day in order to help individuals suffering from ADD concentrate better, be less impulsive and feel calm. The main concerns in the use of medication is in the long-term effects on the individual, but provided that the drug is age appropriate, the condition can be kept under control. Side effects include reduced appetite, insomnia, and high levels of irritability, which make people suffering from the condition cautious. Other treatments include exercises therapy, where the individual engages in physical exercises. These enhance brain activity and modulate neurotransmitter systems, which, in turn, improve memory and concentration (Pellow et al 328). The exercises also help in ridding the body of excess energy that the individual may have in being hyperactive, thus allowing him or her to be calm. Prevention Similar to the diagnosis and treatment of ADD, there are no known ways of preventing the condition from occurring. However, there a couple of things that one can engage in to ensure that the chances of the disorder occurring are reduced as opposed to doing nothing. In light of this, it is crucial to ensure that one has good health physically, mentally and emotionally, especially considering the factors that are considered causative agents of ADD. As a result, for pregnant mothers, they can avoid all things that could be harmful to the development of their child in-utero, such as consumption of alcohol and smoking cigarettes, as well as usage of drugs (Pellow 327). This is, in addition to avoiding toxins and, other teratogens in the environment such as lead and chemicals that inhibit or proper growth and development of the child in cognition, socialization and emotion. In addition, it is crucial for caregivers and those that around a child to pay attention to the development of the child or the affected individual in order to monitor changes I behavior and other aspects for early detection and treatment. Relation Attention deficit Disorder affects people’s everyday lives both directly and indirectly considering which position one holds in relation to the affected individuals. Moreover, as a teacher in a preschool situation, attention deficit disorder is a significant challenge that cannot be overlooked as it affects the handling of other learners, who are by conventions standards “normal”. In this regard, learners suffering from the condition disrupt the activities of the entire class following their short attention span and inability to stick to a single task. This translates in having different activities at all times in order to keep up with the affected learner, rather than the affected attempting to keep up with the rest. In addition, due to the association of ADD with anxiety disorders, the mood in the classroom shifts from time to time distracting the attention of the rest of the class. This is in order to deal with the insecurities of the learner with ADD, as it is the role of the teacher to keep up and maintain order in the classroom environment. This proves the difficult life of a preschool teacher in even organizing the activities and planning for the time and its allocation. In such cases, the teacher faces difficult times in controlling the on-goings in the classroom. In addition, for affected children, it is the teacher’s role to recommend that the parent get his or her child checked in order to ensure that it is not a serious case. This is where the problem arises following common assumption that the teacher would either like the child to removed from the school or put under “mind-numbing“ medication, which is not usually the case. Instead, the teacher’s role is to come up with measures that ensure the learner is in good health and in a position to participate in class activities. In conclusion, ADD is a serious condition that robs affected individuals of their ability to pay attention and concentrate on certain aspects of their lives. As a result, it disrupts the quality of their lives, but the good news is that there is information on its causes, symptoms, possible treatment s and means of preventing it. Works Cited Pellow, Janice, Elizabeth M. Solomon, and Candice N. Barnard. "Complementary And Alternative Medical Therapies For Children With Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)." Alternative Medicine Review 16.4 (2011): 323-337. Print. Reilly, Colin, and Niamh Holland. "Symptoms Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In Children And Adults With Intellectual Disability: A Review." Journal Of Applied Research In Intellectual Disabilities 24.4 (2011): 291-309. Print. Kanarek, Robin B. "Artificial Food Dyes And Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.” Nutrition Reviews 69.7 (2011): 385-391. Print. Read More