The diagnosis and treatment of ADHD is a multistep process and involves
the close collaboration of many different people. In over 10 years of my
practice I have seen hundreds of children with ADHD in many different forms.
The picture of ADHD is like a spice rack, it comes in different colors, flavors
and intensities. Now I will describe to you my methods and interactions with
parents, teachers and other professionals such as social workers and
psychologists.
Once ADHD has been diagnosed by a professional the treatment process
always begins with helping the parent, guardian or caretaker understand the
nature of ADHD. ADHD or Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neuro-developmental syndrome that is one of
the most common childhood conditions affecting 5 to 12% of children worldwide.
(1) ADHD consists of inattention, distractibility, restless hyperactivity, poor
impulse control and often other issues in “executive functioning,” which is the
ability to organize, plan and carry out the plan. It is much more common in
boys than in girls.
ADHD can be viewed as a developmental dysynchrony wherein there is a
maturational lag in certain neurological areas of development. The syndrome
might exist in a mild form for a third of young children who grow out of it as they
age and catch up with peers in the same age group. It can also be moderate to
severe in some needing treatment that persists into Adulthood. The symptoms are
sometimes just excess amounts of normal behavior. Untreated ADHD can lead to
children falling behind in school, have problems with social relationships and
have long term adverse effects that impact their functioning as adults.
ADHD is a genetically predisposed condition that has complex patterns of
inheritance. Sophisticated brain
imaging studies like (SPECT, PET and fMRI) show a decrease in blood flow (hypo-perfusion)
in the frontal lobe and striatal areas of the brain, a sort of under
functioning in areas of the brain that keep our motor activity and impulses in
check. The lesser the blood flow, the more hyperactivity is displayed.
Preetham Grandhi M.D
For More on ADHD read: ADHD Treatments and Remedies: Top ADHD Experts Share Their Secrets to Success
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