Living Effectively With AD/HD

January 7 2004--You may know it as - ADD – Attention Deficit Disorder. Today, however, AD/HD, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is the official term used, and it includes the three different types of the disorder –the inattentive type, the hyperactive/impulsive type, and the combined type. All three can affect children, adolescents and adults.

Today, three to five percent of school age children have AD/HD. Children with AD/HD may have difficulty sitting still, trouble paying attention and a hard time controlling impulsive behavior.

During the past few decades we’ve seen an increased number of adults with AD/HD. It is now understood that adults with AD/HD probably struggled as youngsters, but were never diagnosed. Common symptoms in adults include mood swings, short temper, restlessness, organizational problems and trouble with interpersonal relationships. Many adults do not realize they have AD/HD until their own child is diagnosed with the disorder.

“Adults with AD/HD typically have a lack of focus and can exhibit difficulty concentrating, with restlessness and a general sense of disorganization,” says James Wendorf, Executive Director of the National Center for Learning Disabilities. “Unfortunately, these symptoms can interfere with success in the workplace and they often get in the way at home or with friends.

“A long and persistent history of restless, impulsive, or inattentive behavior may be a sign of adult AD/HD,” says Mr. Wendorf.

AD/HD often co-occurs with learning disabilities (LD) and both are life long conditions. AD/HD is treatable with medication, while LD is not. Other treatments for AD/HD include behavioral therapy, family counseling and parent training.

Additional information about learning disabilities and related disorders is available from NCLD on their Web site, at http://ww.ncld.org.

The mission of NCLD (www.LD.org) is to increase opportunities for all individuals with learning disabilities (LD) to achieve their potential, and to provide solutions to help them participate fully in society. NCLD accomplishes its mission by increasing public awareness and understanding of learning disabilities, conducting educational programs and services that promote research-based knowledge, and providing national leadership in shaping public policy.

For information about ADHD and neuropsychological performance, visit
http://youradhdinfosite.com/adhdneuropsychologicalperformance/