Answers to Your Questions About
How ADHD Affects Individuals

Q. Can one inherit ADHD?

Research has shown ADHD tends to be inherited, therefore that there are some genetic influences determining whether children with ADHD will have in their turn, children with ADD.

Therefore, it should be noted that one in three fathers of the children who have ADD also had ADD. Therefore, it may seem that there is some genetic link that influences this occurrence.

Q. Is the prevalence of ADD rising?

No one actually knows the right response to this question, even though it may seem that the patient number needing treatment has increased a lot recently. Therefore, the identification is attributed to greater public interest in the disorder, the fact that it can be more easily diagnosed than in the past and that there are more treatments available on the market to help the patients cope with the disorder. All these factors summed up, it may seem that there is no way of telling whether the number of cases has increased or not.

Q. Are brain scans able to show signs of ADHD in children?

Neuroimaging has proved that children suffering from ADHD produce different images in such scans than those without the disorder. Differences can be encountered in some brain areas and structures (for instance in the cortex, cerebellum, basal ganglia, pre frontal cortex or striatum).

The brain size also differs, in that the brain is smaller in children with ADD than in those who don't have the disorder. It has also been established that there is a connection between the fact that children with ADD aren't able to pay too much attention to facts and the brain activity in these children.

Brain areas responsible for attention and concentration in children with ADD seem less active, thus suggesting that there is less work done in those areas.

Q. Can children who haven't gone to school yet be diagnosed with ADD?

The diagnostics is indeed possible, but it sometimes involves hazards and side effects so that experts recommend it is best to not interfere with such small children. There are a lot of speaking problems, language delays or adjustment problems that can imitate ADHD.

Therefore, it would be premature to start treatment for ADHD at this moment, because there is no certainty that it would be indeed ADHD that the child is suffering rom. Therefore, it is best to wait more until the symptoms become more evident because otherwise, the child won't be responsible to treatment. 

Q. How can ADD affect children and families?

Children with ADHD may go on through a lot of trouble in that they might have problems at school coping with assignments or projects, then finishing a game, dealing with social issues and making friends. Thus, they might spend a lot of time on activities that could be easily done otherwise and therefore become frustrated at their relative incapacity to deal with things.

Therefore, it is difficult l to be confronted with these problems on a daily basis because this will lead to low self esteem which is detrimental for the child. Also, the conflicts inside the family can increase because there is a lot of pressure put on the side of parents to make sure they give the proper care and affection to the child.

If the child is diagnosed with ADHD, then the parents need to consider the treatment options and decide over what should be done in the future. Treatments usually cost a lot of money, and therefore this is a commitment that needs to be made in the long term. A disorder like this one isn't cover in insurance policies therefore; parents need to set aside the regular costs for the treatment.

School programs may help the child cope better with his problem in that trained staff can help the child with what he has to do. Of course, such options are available in all school but nonetheless, it is best to be treated properly when having ADD. When wanting to help a child with ADD, then parents, teachers and doctors must collaborate together for the benefit of the child.

Q. Are there nutritional treatments available for ADHD children?

As some parents don't want to resort to medication, they want to modify the child's nutritional habits so that they seek to eliminate the sugary intake, even before going to the doctor and see where this is ok.

Such interventions have been proved to be efficient and therefore, children with ADD have been able to improve their condition. Some research even suggested that while it is a general good idea to modify the alimentation of a patient, it needs to be coupled with some form of medicine intake so that the child is able to benefit from an even more effective treatment.

Herbal supplements have also been shown to help improve behavior and performance in the classroom. They work by helping relax the hyperactive child while improving brain activity. Get More Information on natural products that have been shown to help with the symptoms of ADHD