The Advantages of an Attention Deficit

Who is affected by ADHD?
• 3 to 5% of children have an ADHD
• Boys are three times as likely as girls to be affected
• ADHD touches people of all ages (including adults)
Usually, it's only over time that it becomes clear that certain children are not just
daydreamers or extraordinarily active – that they are, in fact, handicapped with a
medical disorder. This is because children with attention disorders exhibit the same
behaviors seen in any normal child, except that their behaviors are exaggerated, and
debilitating. Children with ADD have a neurobiologically-based disability that causes
them to be inappropriately inattentive, and, in some cases, inappropriately impulsive for
their age. Many have poor short-term memories, difficulties in completing tasks, and
problems with intrusiveness.
Sleep problems are also common. Falling within in this category are children who
daydream incessantly. They find it almost impossible to stay with the task at hand,
which can have devastating consequences for their school performance. Because these
children are not disruptive, they can also be harder to spot and treat. They are often
found sitting in the back rows of classrooms, gazing out the windows. Teachers may
think they're “slow”. Chances are they're not.
Those who have ADHD, as opposed to ADD, have the additional challenge of being
hyperactive (inappropriately active for their age). In a constant physical whirl of
unfocussed activity, they dart from here to there. Critically hampering their ability to
achieve goals, this variant of attention disorder can wreak havoc on family, school and
social life. ADHD (representing ADD and ADHD) affects two to three times more boys
than girls, but the girls who are affected can be impaired as severely as boys. It can
place great stress on parents, siblings, friends, teachers, and others closely connected
with the child.
Causes of ADHD
Like all mental disorders, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder results from a
combination of genetic and environmental risk factors. Several studies have shown that
a small molecule responsible for communication between neurons—dopamine—plays
an important role in attention, task orientation, and action. In fact, the drugs used to
treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder increase its level between certain neurons. It
is therefore possible that an imbalance in dopamine-related nervous system activities
may play a role in the development of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Since 30 to 40 percent of people diagnosed with ADHD have relatives with the same
disorder, genes are thought to be at least partially involved. Although parents, teachers,
spouses etc. do not cause ADHD, they can greatly affect the person's ability to cope
with their disorder.
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