Recognize Signs of ADD/ADHD
The symptoms of ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that
are considered inappropriate for age. The signs and symptoms of ADD/ADHD usually
appear before the age of 7 but it can be hard to distinguish between ADHD and
normal “kid behavior.”
If you notice only a few signs of ADD/ADHD or if the
symptoms only appear in certain situations, it’s probably not ADD/ADHD. If your
child shows a number of disruptive ADD/ADHD signs that are noticeable in all
situations (at home, at school, and at play) you may want to consider talking to
your doctor.
One good way to assess your child’s behavior is to look at other
kids his or her age. If your child is significantly more impulsive, hyperactive,
or inattentive than his or her classmates or friends, it’s a good idea to see a
mental health professional for an ADHD evaluation.
Symptoms of ADD/ADHD
- Inattention - Inattention may not be noticed until a child enters the
environment of elementary school. In adults, symptoms may manifest in work
or in social situations.
Some symptoms of innattention are:
- Difficulty paying attention to school or other activities. Work is
often messy and careless
- Inability to sustain attention on tasks or activities
- Difficulty finishing schoolwork or paperwork or performing tasks
that requires concentration
- Procrastination
- Forgetful in daily activities
- Frequent shifts in conversation, not listening to others, not
keeping ones mind on conversations and not following details or rules of
activities in social situations
- Hyperactivity - The symptoms of hyperactivity may be apparent in very
young preschoolers and are nearly always present before the age of seven.
Some symptoms of hyperactive include:
- Fidgeting, squirming when seated
- Having to get up frequently to walk or run around
- Running or climbing excessively when its inappropriate
- Difficulty playing quietly or engaging in quiet leisure activities
- Often talks excessively
Hyperactivity may vary with age and developmental stage.
- Impulsivity - The impulsivity of children with ADD / ADHD can cause
problems with self-control. Children with impulsive signs and symptoms of
ADD / ADHD also tend to be moody and to overreact emotionally.
Symptoms of impulsivity can include:
- Impatience
- Difficulty delaying responses
- Blurting out answers before questions have been completed
- Difficulty waiting for one's turn
- Frequently interrupting or intruding on others to the point of
causing problems in social or work settings
- Initiating conversations at inappropriate times
Children with ADHD may also engage in potentially dangerous activities
without consideration for the consequences.
Effects of ADD & ADHD in children
ADD and ADHD can get in the way of learning in some children. Children can’t
absorb information or get their work done if they’re running around the
classroom or zoning out when they’re supposed to be reading or listening. But
schoolwork isn’t the only thing that suffers. The symptoms of ADHD can also
affect the child’s relationships with family members and peers.
Children with ADD/ADHD tend to have problems with working memory. Working
memory is the ability to remember several thoughts or facts you’ve just heard
long enough to use it to solve a problem or perform a task.
Problems with working memory often express themselves as:
- Forgetting instructions
- Difficulty memorizing facts, figures, or dates
- Forgetting one part of the problem while working on another
ADD/ADHD impairs the area of the brain responsible for executive function.
Executive functioning includes the abilities to plan, prioritize, organize, move
toward a goal, delay gratification, and monitor your own behavior. The problems
with executive function also make it difficult for many kids with ADD/ADHD to
recognize personal boundaries and read social cues such as body language and
facial expressions.
Problems with executive function often express themselves as:
- Poor sense of time and timing
- Poor problem solving
- Inconsistency
- Difficulty waiting for an outcome
- Low tolerance for frustration
Positive effects of ADD/ADHD
In addition to the challenges, there are also some positive characteristics
associated with people who have ADD or ADHD:
- Creativity – Children who have ADD/ADHD can be creative and
imaginative. Children with ADD may be easily distracted, but sometimes they
notice what others don’t see.
- Flexibility – Because children with ADD/ADHD consider a lot of
options at once, they don’t become set on one alternative early on and are
more open to different ideas.
- Enthusiasm and spontaneity – Children with ADD/ADHD are rarely
boring! They’re interested in a lot of different things and have lively
personalities.
- Energy and drive – When kids with ADD/ADHD are motivated, they
work or play hard and strive to succeed. It actually may be difficult to
distract them from a task that interests them, especially if the activity is
interactive or hands-on.
Keep in mind, too, that ADD/ADHD has nothing to do with intelligence or
talent. Many children with ADD/ADHD are intellectually or artistically gifted.
Natural Supplements for ADHD-
Listol
Listol is
an alternative all natural supplement designed to work with the body to help
with ADD/ADHD. Listol replenishes nutrients that are lacking and causing the
symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Unlike prescribed medications for the treatment of
ADD/ADHD Listol does not have the unwanted side effects.
A few ingredients in Listol are:
- Vitamin B6 - Pyridoxine is essential for proper function of the
nervous system.
- Iron - Research indicates that iron deficiency is associated with
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children.
- Magnesium - In a study of 116 children with ADHD magnesium
deficiency was observed in 95% of the subjects. Analysis of the data showed
a correlation between levels of magnesium and the quotient of development to
freedom from distractibility.
- Zinc - A study conducted to explore the relationship of zinc
nutrition to the severity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
symptoms in a middle-class American sample with well-diagnosed ADHD showed
that serum zinc levels correlated at with parent-teacher-rated inattention.
- Copper - When supplementing with zinc it is always important to
take additional copper to prevent deficiency of this trace mineral, as zinc
and copper compete for absorption. Furthermore, copper levels are observed
to be lower in children with hyperactivity.
- Glycine - Glycine is a basic amino acid which is vital for proper
nervous system function.
- GABA Powder - GABA pathways in the brain appear to play a role in
certain cognitive disorders like ADHD.
- DMAE Bitartatrate - DMAE is a precursor for phosphatidylcholine,
an important phospholipid in the brain. Supplementation with DMAE has
demonstrated improvements in hyperkinesis, an older term for ADHD.
To learn more about Listol
Click
Here.
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