Four Facts About ADHD Every Parent Should Know
Conventional medicine has a straightforward, often myopic view about ADHD and what causes it.
As a result, parents whose children were just diagnosed receive a simplistic explanation of ADHD, its symptoms, and why medication is the best treatment.
While doctors mean well when they tell you this, their understanding of this disorder doesn't reveal the bigger picture.
Here are four facts about ADHD that every parent needs to know.
ADHD has many causes You may be familiar with how ADHD is triggered by a deficiency in brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine.
While this is true, this neurotransmitter deficiency is not the only factor behind the onset of ADHD.
There are a number of things that can cause uncontrollable hyperactivity and inattention.
ADHD shares symptoms with other disorders Hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention are not exclusive to ADHD.
There is a wide range of disorders that share the same symptoms, from autism to inner ear problems.
This is why it is not enough to diagnose a child after checking symptoms off a list; a doctor should make the effort to rule out related disorders before deciding on treatment.
ADHD cannot be outgrown One of the most enduring myths about ADHD is that it is a childhood disorder that one usually outgrows by the time he or she is a teenager or young adult.
Nothing could be more false.
If left untreated, or if the symptoms aren't given adequate attention, ADHD often meets the diagnostic criteria of related disorders.
A hyperactive child might display symptoms of antisocial behavior during adulthood.
Or a shy, inattentive girl might experience depression in her teens.
It is important to find a treatment for ADHD once the diagnosis is given, but it's just as important to find a treatment that goes beyond suppressing the symptoms.
ADHD is a gift The stereotype of the ADHD child is an obnoxious little boy who talks too much and cannot sit still for five seconds.
While many ADHD children display less than desirable behaviors, not everything about this disorder is bad.
Studies show that children with ADHD tend to be more creative thinkers than children without.
The problem is that their symptoms prevent them from applying these skills into schoolwork and their social relationships.
With the right treatment program, a child can overcome the harmful symptoms of this disorder while keeping the unique gifts of ADHD.
As a result, parents whose children were just diagnosed receive a simplistic explanation of ADHD, its symptoms, and why medication is the best treatment.
While doctors mean well when they tell you this, their understanding of this disorder doesn't reveal the bigger picture.
Here are four facts about ADHD that every parent needs to know.
ADHD has many causes You may be familiar with how ADHD is triggered by a deficiency in brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine.
While this is true, this neurotransmitter deficiency is not the only factor behind the onset of ADHD.
There are a number of things that can cause uncontrollable hyperactivity and inattention.
- Exposure to neurotoxins can cause serious developmental delays in young children.
- The brain needs a certain amount of nutrients in order to function well.
A deficiency in key vitamins, minerals, and nutrients can impact the production of neurotransmitters, thereby causing the symptoms of ADHD. - A traumatic birth can trigger ADHD due to damage on the spine and delicate upper neck vertebrae.
- Allergic reactions to certain foods and substances can manifest itself as problematic behavior.
ADHD shares symptoms with other disorders Hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention are not exclusive to ADHD.
There is a wide range of disorders that share the same symptoms, from autism to inner ear problems.
This is why it is not enough to diagnose a child after checking symptoms off a list; a doctor should make the effort to rule out related disorders before deciding on treatment.
ADHD cannot be outgrown One of the most enduring myths about ADHD is that it is a childhood disorder that one usually outgrows by the time he or she is a teenager or young adult.
Nothing could be more false.
If left untreated, or if the symptoms aren't given adequate attention, ADHD often meets the diagnostic criteria of related disorders.
A hyperactive child might display symptoms of antisocial behavior during adulthood.
Or a shy, inattentive girl might experience depression in her teens.
It is important to find a treatment for ADHD once the diagnosis is given, but it's just as important to find a treatment that goes beyond suppressing the symptoms.
ADHD is a gift The stereotype of the ADHD child is an obnoxious little boy who talks too much and cannot sit still for five seconds.
While many ADHD children display less than desirable behaviors, not everything about this disorder is bad.
Studies show that children with ADHD tend to be more creative thinkers than children without.
The problem is that their symptoms prevent them from applying these skills into schoolwork and their social relationships.
With the right treatment program, a child can overcome the harmful symptoms of this disorder while keeping the unique gifts of ADHD.
