Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Imagine living in a world where sights, sounds, images and thoughts are constantly changing and shifting. Unable to focus on whatever task is at hand, your mind wanders from one activity or thought to the next. Sometimes you become so lost among all the thoughts and images that you don't even notice when someone is speaking to you. This is what it is like for many people who have Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. Once called hyperkinesis or minimal brain dysfunction, ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders among children. It affects 3 to 5 percent of all children, and it is likely to occur two to three times more in boys than in girls. People who have ADHD may be …show more content…
They may take unsafe risks and break laws -- ultimately getting them into trouble at school and with the police. Still, not all children with ADHD have an additional disorder. The same is true for people with learning disabilities, Tourette's syndrome, etc. They do not all have ADHD with their initial disorder. However, when ADHD and such disorders do occur together, the problems can seriously complicate a person's life. As we speak, scientists are discovering more and more evidence suggesting that ADHD does not stem from home environment, but from biological causes. And over the past few decades, health professionals have come up with possible theories about what causes ADHD. But, they continue to emphasize that no one knows exactly what causes ADHD. There are just too many possibilities
[for now] to be certain about the exact cause. Therefore, it is more important for the person affected [and their family] to search for ways to get the right help. A common method for treating ADHD is the use of medications. Drugs known as stimulants seem to have been the most effective with both children and adults who have ADHD. The three which are most often prescribed are: methylphenidate
(Ritalin), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine or Dextrostat), and pemoline (Cylert).
For many, these drugs dramatically reduce hyperactivity and improve their ability to focus, work, and learn. Research