What Is ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Osho Clinic

ADHD! Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder!

Everyone parent wants to know more and more about ADHD. Concerns are valid because of the overall impact of ADHD on sufferers and caregivers.

Symptoms in Children

Symptoms are grouped into three categories:

1. Inattention.

• Is easily distracted
• Doesn't follow directions or finish tasks
• Doesn't appear to be listening
• Doesn't pay attention and makes careless mistakes
• Forgets about daily activities
• Has problems organizing daily tasks
• Doesn’t like to do things that require sitting still
• Often loses things
• Tends to daydream

2. Hyperactivity.

• Often squirms, fidgets, or bounces when sitting
• Doesn't stay seated
• Has trouble playing quietly
• Is always moving, such as running or climbing on things
• Talks excessively
• Is always “on the go” as if “driven by a motor”

3. Impulsive

• Has trouble waiting for his or her turn
• Blurts out answers
• Interrupts others

Symptoms of ADHD may change as a person gets older. They include:

• Chronic lateness and forgetfulness
• Anxiety
• Low self-esteem
• Problems at work
• Trouble controlling anger
• Impulsiveness
• Substance abuse or addiction
• Unorganized
• Procrastination
• Easily frustrated
• Chronic boredom
• Trouble concentrating when reading
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Relationship problems

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a childhood-onset condition with impairing symptoms of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. It occurs in about 5% of children with little geographic or cross-cultural variation in prevalence and often co-occurs with other conditions, including mood, anxiety, conduct, learning, and substance use.

About two-thirds of ADHD children will continue to have impairing symptoms of ADHD in adulthood.

People with ADHD are at risk for a wide range of functional impairments: school failure, peer rejection, injuries due to accidents, criminal behavior, occupational failure, divorce, suicide, and premature death. Although many details of ADHD’s pathophysiology are unknown, neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies implicate brain circuits regulating executive functioning, reward processing, timing, and temporal information processing. About 70% cases shows hereditary linkage.

Impairment or deficiency of dopamine and norepinephrine is strongly linked to ADHD pathology.

Prefrontal and frontal lobe, caudate nucleus and cerebellum has altered functioning in ADHD.

Smoking and alcohol consumption in pregnancy increases the risk of ADHD.

• Assessment of ADHD is most commonly done with the following scales.
• Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale (VADRS)
• Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Teacher Rating Scale

There are always significant cognitive deficiencies in patients of ADHD. Memory, learning, language, intelligence should be tested by neuropsychological batteries. Associated other mental disorders like, OCD, conduct disorders, substance abuse, anxiety disorders, depression are likely to be higher in ADHD children.

Management of ADHD

1. Most effective treatment of ADHD is use of stimulant drugs. There are multiple options in stimulants category. Methylphenidate drug remains the number one choice for treatment. Dosages varies according to severity of problems. Other non stimulant are available in milder cases of ADHD or when stimulants are contraindicated.
2. Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) is also helpful along with the medicines to achieve faster results in all sphere of ADHD.
3. Cognitive behaviour therapy is useful along with medicines to treat impulsive and hyperactivity behaviours.
4. Positive reinforcement is used as one treatment modality to curb ADHD.
5. Proper guidance to parents is must and should be included as part of therapy.

Note from Osho clinic: 

• Neuropsychological assessment should be considered as part of treatment.
• New treatment options like tVNS should be added to treatment.
• Parents education is highly valuable in treatment plan.