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Author:
Sarah Jenkins

· Attention Deficit Disorder does not actually exist; it is an excuse to allow children to behave poorly and avoid discipline.

Great strides are being taken to fully understand ADD and its causes. However, there is no question it is a real disorder that is exhibited by inattention, impulsiveness, distractibility, and sometimes hyperactivity.

· All children have poor attention spans and are hyperactive; therefore children diagnosed with ADD are just like any other child.

ADD causes excessive impulsiveness, inattention, distractibility and sometimes hyperactivity; the very nature of diagnosing ADD is that the behavior is more extreme than that of other children of the same age. While most children display these behaviors at some time, it does not normally hinder their day to day activities. Children with ADD have constant problems with these behaviors impeding their productivity on a daily basis.

· Attention Deficit Disorder can be prevented through discipline or diet.

Because ADD is a biological and genetic disorder, diet and discipline are not causes. Many suggestions have been made that poor diet, fatty foods, and sugar are factors that cause the disorder; this is absolutely not the case. Likewise, lack of discipline does not cause ADD. In many cases a child with ADD has been excessively reprimanded to no avail.

· All children with ADD are hyperactive

There is a common misconception that Attention Deficit Disorder inherently means a child is hyperactive; this is not true. Many children have the predominantly inattentive type of ADD, meaning the primary characteristic is lack of attention, short attention span, and distractibility. This type does not include hyperactivity as a symptom. ADD without hyperactivity is often more difficult to identify, as the children are usually just thought to be unproductive or lazy.

· Most children outgrow ADD

Studies suggest that most children continue the symptoms of ADD throughout adolescence, and some even into adulthood. Exhibiting the same behaviors, these individuals will continue to show distractibility, difficulty in staying on task, and impulsiveness for many years.

· There is nothing parents or teachers can do to control a child with ADD

This is simply not the case. The purpose of parents and teachers in dealing with a child with ADD should be to help teach them how to control their own actions. There are various ways to do this, including behavior modification, positive reinforcement procedures, and other techniques. While traditional discipline may be less effective, measures can be taken to help control an ADD child

About the author:

Sarah is an acclaimed writer on medical matters, and has written extensively on the subjects of Attention Deficit Disorder, Bird Flu and Cohn's Disease. For more of her articles, go to http://www.imedicalvillage.com now.

| 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... New ADHD Educational Resource Now Available (ARA) - Millions of children, adolescents, and adults who struggle with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) themselves, or know a family member, friend, student or co-worker affected by this common neurobehavioral disorder, now have a new informative resource, www.focusonadhd.com, to help them better understand and manage the condition. The comprehensive Web site offers up-to-date information, resources and encouragement to educate people about the impact of ADHD across different life stages. The site includes a wealth of information about ADHD diagnosis and management, dispels common myths about the condition, and offers information about currently available treatment options that can be discussed with a doctor or other healthcare professional. “Not having enough information about ADHD and how to manage it or knowing where to go for help can be major barriers to diagnosis and treatment,” says Peggy DeFelice, M.D., a clinical care physician in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at Kids First Flourtown -- The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Primary Care Network. “Left untreated, children with ADHD can suffer academically and experience behavioral, social, and emotional problems through adulthood. FocusonADHD.com is an informative and helpful resource for individuals with ADHD as well as those who take care of, teach, and work with people who have the disorder.” Among the site’s features: * Interactive ADHD Awareness Quiz: Visitors can test their “ADHD AQ” (Awareness Quotient) by separating fact from fiction to see how much they know about ADHD. * “Ask the Expert”: A panel of experts answers a new ADHD-related question each week; visitors can submit questions and review answers to other previously featured questions. * Latest...