ADD In Children

Attention deficit disorder or ADD is a combination of hyperactivity and lack of attention and is commonly diagnosed in children below the age of seven. The symptoms appear from age three onwards and the disorder continues into adulthood with many of the people. ADD in children makes hem unable to pay attention or concentrate on things for a longer time. This short attention span is also accompanied by isolated instances of impulsive behavior. This disease is also called disruptive behavioral disorder because children afflicted by it are unable to act and behave in conformation to the societal and socially acceptable behavioral norms. They behave and act impulsively and this can sometimes be against accepted practices. It is estimated that more than around 4% of children in the world are affected by ADD. It is also understood that the symptoms are more visible, within a couple of years of joining school. According to statistics, more male children are afflicted by ADD than girls but scientists point out that this may be due to biased reference by teachers who could find male children al little more difficult to handle than girls. It is more likely that ADD in children afflicts both boys and girls equally but the numbers of reported cases are more for boys.

There is no known cure for ADD in children but this affliction can be complexly controlled by a combination of medication, behavioral therapy and life style changes. This treatment must be started as early as possible to enable the afflicted children to understand their deficiency and develop coping mechanisms for it. Many people, who carry this affliction into their adulthood, are able to adapt well and cope with their ailment. They are also able to co-exist with other normal people. Diagnosis of ADD in children is also difficult because the symptoms displayed by the afflicted children are so similar to the general behavioral traits of all children. Most or all of the symptoms are behaviors that all children display at some time or the other. So, only experts can diagnose ADD in children accurately and the process includes psychiatric assessment and behavioral tests. The symptoms are also contradictory in nature. For example, children can display hyperactivity and lethargy on the same day and this can be confusing. It is important to consult an expert if children are displaying extreme mood swings because, an early diagnosis can help children to start coping with the affliction better.