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Author:
Michael Russell

When you were a child, didn't you run around all the time for no specific reason. Didn't you constantly turn your attention from one thing to the next. Didn't you have a hard time sitting still? Didn't you have a hard time focusing on one thing, for long periods of time? You were a child and you acted the way most children do. You didn't think about things, you just did them because at that age, there was no thought process. Most children go through this stage in their early life, but science has come along and told us that maybe this activity isn't so natural.

Attention Deficit Disorder, how do we define it? You would think with all the great minds in the world that someone would've came up with a definition that fits. But that's not the case, apparently ADD is a subjective description and not necessarily a disease. The naming of this disorder, has a history all by itself. In 1902 it was called, "Morbid Defect of Moral Control". In 1922 it became, "Post-encephalitic Behavior Disorders". 1960 gave us the term, "Minimal Brain Dysfunction" and then came 1968 with, "Hyperkinetic Reaction". It wasn't until the 1980s when the words Attention Deficit Disorder were spoken.

There is still confusion over who does and doesn't have ADD. Some members of the mental health industry had a need to classify anyone with ADD, as having a brain defect. Supposedly this was due to the fact that the first group of ADD patients that were studied, suffered from encephalitis; which is a swelling of the brain. But this criteria no longer exist, because over the years, people with no brain defects, have been added to the roll call of ADD.

At this time, there are two major types of ADD. ADD with hyperactivity and ADD without. Symptoms of ADD with hyperactivity are defined as, can't stay seated, fidgety, runs or climbs a lot, talks a lot, can't play quietly and having a hard time waiting in line or waiting their turn. Some symptoms of ADD without hyperactivity are, disorganized, having a hard time paying attention to tasks, easily distracted and doesn't seem to listen.

So, who has ADD? The numbers usually given are 3-5 percent of the population. But nobody knows. Because ADD is so subjective, it's obvious that many who are listed as ADD, may not even belong there.

There is still major discussion going on as to the validity of ADD. Is it real? Some people say that ADD isn't a disease, but a collection of behaviors and symptoms, that could be caused by any number of problems. And when you add in the fact that the experts in the field, can't even decide what exactly ADD is and who exactly has it; then this just gives more credence to those that doubt the existence of ADD. Of course there are many that believe ADD is real and not just some phase a person is going through. They believe people should be treated for their symptoms and not be expected to just grow out of them.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to ADD

| Article Keywords: ADHD News

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to ADHD News... ADD - Common Misconceptions and the Truths Many people, even very intelligent people ask, "Does ADD exist?" Diet, poor schools, shoddy education, or even bad parenting have been blamed for ADD. Research has shown that ADD does exist and can be seen on SPECT and PET scans. Yet it has been hard to convince the general public that childhood ADD existed. Many think it is outgrown by the time children are teenagers. ADD is now known as a genetic condition. People are born with ADD. Erratic attention span, boredom, low tolerance of frustration and disorganization are some of the textbook signs of ADD. Adults, though intelligent and motivated, have trouble with time management, follow-through and making simple decisions. Many of these adults choose careers that are intense and keep one "on-edge". Scientifically, ADD can be viewed as a problem with the blood flow on the prefrontal cortex. When someone with ADD is relaxed, such as listening to calm music, the blood flows normally. But under a little more stress, such as balancing a simple checkbook, the blood flows less unlike other brains. When the ADD brain is under more stress, such as taking a test, it gets even less blood, gets confused, or sometimes shuts down. These individuals have been known to complain that the harder they try something, the harder the task gets. All is not bad with ADD. Some famous and talented people have had ADD. These people include Ansel Adams, Beethoven, Mozart, Emily Bronte, Napoleon, Isaac Newton, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Vincent Van Gogh, Howard Hughes and Virginia Woolf, among others. People with ADD are often highly intelligent, imaginative and creative. The crucial point is that once a person is diagnosed with ADD, he learns to cope and it is as if an untapped part of the brain is revealed. Some say this allows them to...