What is ADD/ADHD?

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a form of neurological disorder that is mainly characterized by lack of attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, coupled with physical manifestations such as fidgeting, squirming, talking excessively, tapping, and constant movement. Parents are starting to detect symptoms as early as six or seven and sometimes earlier.

Among the most common signs of ADHD parents observe: impatience, constantly interrupting others, having frequent and sudden outbursts, not being able to accomplish tasks, lack of focus, inability to play quietly, aversion to tasks that require extended mental effort, forgetfulness, to name a few. If children have been showing six or more of these symptoms, over a six-month period, they are usually diagnosed with ADD. The challenge with ADD/ADHD training approach is the diagnosing professional often gives vague recommendation to help the individual compensate. This is where Brain Sprints comes in. Our ADD/ADHD training approach is to find the root cause of the symptoms, stimulate the brain at the root and see the new brain pathways provide better function for the individual. See the list of symptoms and some possible root causes here. 

What is ADD?

Attention deficit disorder or ADD is similar to ADHD minus the constant movement or hyperactivity. In fact, this type of neurological disorder is harder to detect since most children with ADD are generally not disruptive in school and may simply be mistaken as constantly daydreaming. Although they will not give voice to their difficulty in accomplishing schoolwork, following instructions, and socializing with classmates, children with ADD are most likely silently struggling on their own.

Trouble paying attention, aversion to long mental tasks, forgetfulness, losing things often, making careless mistakes, disorganization, and lack of eye contact are the most common symptoms of ADD. A child is diagnosed with ADD if he is showing six or more of these symptoms in addition to low activity levels within a six month period. Many physicians recommend the use of medication to treat ADD and ADHD. The problem is, that by definition, all prescriptions have side effects and the jury is still out on the long term effects on a person’s life that was given these medications early in life.

Three types of ADD include:

A Predominantly Inattentive ADHD label is often given when the child is constantly distracted, not listening, and forgetful, not paying attention to detail, quickly loses interest in something, has trouble following and/or understanding instructions, avoiding tasks that require focus or more mental effort, and more.

A Predominantly Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD label is given when the child has less of the inattentive symptoms and manifests more hyperactive cues, such as fidgeting, squirming, interrupting people when they talk, constantly moving, difficulty in playing quietly, running and climbing at inappropriate times, blurting out words, to name a few.

Combination ADHD is when the child exhibits both inattentive and hyper-impulsive symptoms.