Characteristics
Of
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)
Approximately 5-7% (some people think that 15% may
be more accurate) of the population have attention difficulties serious enough to
cause problems for their life. One person described ADHD as a "garlic
disorder." That is, everyone seems to notice the problem except the person
themselves.
The name itself is misleading.
"Attention Variability Disorder" might be a better term. There is a great
unevenness in the ability to focus attention. If something is very
interesting, the person can often pay attention. Video games are a great
example of the way that a person with ADHD can pay attention to highly
stimulating material for long periods of time.
However, boring material is quite
different for the ADHD person People with ADHD do much worse dealing with
boring material than the average person. The following characteristics are
typical of ADHD.
It is helpful to think of two types
of ATTENTION.
The first type is ATTENTION as
Fascination. Fascination is what our attention is quickly and easily drawn
toward. It is difficult to not be drawn toward a fire truck racing past with
lights and sirens. Or video games. People with Attention Deficit Disorder are
actually drawn more quickly to those things that are fascinating or interesting.
And sometimes risky.
The second type of ATTENTION has to
do with motivation and sustained attention to a task. We use this term to
describe such things as "paying attention." A slang word that conveys the idea
is "stick-to-itiveness." Sustaining attention on a less than interesting or
fascinating task is a severe challenge for a person with ADHD. Unfortunately
anything else can draw their attention away from the task at hand to something
more interesting or fascinating. Thus for some people it may be helpful to think
of Attention Deficit Disorder as Fascination Surplus Disorder.
Officially there are two sets of
characteristics of ADHD. One set of characteristics is the hyperactive/impulsive
traits. The other is the inattentive traits. Official checklists deal with
these two common set of difficulties.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD) usually has hyperactive/impulsive traits combined with
inattentive traits.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD
officially known as ADHD primarily inattentive type) does not have hyperactive
and impulsive traits, but may be exclusively problems of concentration, focus,
attention, recall and memory. Often people have a great deal of difficulty
listening to instructions. Some experts in the field describe this as "sluggish
cognitive tempo." ADD is increasingly being seen as a distinct disorder from
ADHD. These disorders may have different genetic and biological causes.
Practical Guide to
Some of the Problems of ADHD
The following is a practical
guide to some of the problems associated with ADHD and ADD:
1. Difficulty Sustaining Attention
Can sustain attention, but not for as long
Can sustain attention if interested, but not able to sustain attention if
subject is boring or routine
May start with great enthusiasm and good intentions but then
"poops out" or loses interest.
2. Difficulty Controlling Impulses
Taking Shortcuts
Taking too many risks
Money Management Problems
Impulsive Thinking
Difficulty "putting on the brakes"
Difficulty "holding back" when needs to.
3. A Problem with Too Much Behavior
Hyperactive, restless, on the go, "as if driven by a motor."
Hyper responsive
4. Difficulty Following Directions
Loses track of tasks, easily distracted, difficulty understanding oral
directions
5. Difficulty with motivation, hard time getting going
6. Poor sense of time, loses track
of time easily
7. Prefers new to routine. Starts
many projects, doesn't finish tasks
8. Poorly organized, not able to
stay organized
9. Loses things constantly. Not
able to remember where items per placed.
10. Poor coordination, clumsy
Click here to see
Official Diagnostic Guideline to ADHD
It Is In Your Brain
Attention Deficit Disorder has multiple causes, but it is all about the brain
not working properly.
ADHD is usually genetic. It is extremely inheritable. The vast majority
of ADHD is caused by heredity. There are very few human traits or
characteristics that have a higher rate of inheritability. Thus if your
child has it, it is almost certain that other family members will have it as
well. One or both of the parents often has many of the traits.
In those few cases where heredity does not appear to be a factor, it may be caused by various forms of trauma to the brain. (Acquired ADHD).
Thus lack of oxygen around the time of birth, or head injuries can create ADHD
symptoms. The head injuries do not need to be so severe that there is a loss of
consciousness. Neurologists are concerned about mild head trauma such as
"headers" in soccer, let alone skate boarding and bike accidents. The
pre-frontal cortex is the part of the brain usually implicated in trauma.
There may be some a few cases related to
allergies, and some other diseases may mimic ADHD. Lead poisoning can also cause
symptoms like ADHD.
Brain Images
The following link will show some of the brain
images that Dr. Daniel Amen has taken of people with ADD/ADHD. It shows
the difference between people at rest, during concentration and on
medication. One can see the difference in how much activity the brain
has in the brain, and how medication helps the brain function more normally.
Brain
images of ADD. Images of various types of brain activity using SPECT
scans.
This is a link to Daniel Amen's website, Amenclinic.com. You can see
before and after treatment with various types of ADD.
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Swank Counseling
