chool age children and two to three times as many boys as girls. One child in a classroom of 20, is affected. This is not an epidemic, however the media likes to sensationalize ADHD, as if it were. If one person in a family is diagnosed with ADD, there is about a 25 percent probability that another person in the family also has some form of Attention Deficit Disorder". (Peter Jaksa, Ph.D.) Living with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) can be complex and no two individuals are exactly alike. Symptoms and problems are often unique and may vary in type, number and intensity from person to person. (Akron General) Some indicators suggestive of ADD are: Being easily distracted, forgetting things, procrastination, difficulties making decisions, verbal impulsiveness, expressing thoughts in speech or in writing, having periods of depression or low self esteem, frequently late or rushed, reading comprehension or retention, emotionally sensitive, easily upset, low frustration tolerance, easily bored, impulsive spending, personal or family history of substance abuse, depression or anxiety, strong need to have things their way and a intense need for excitement. Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD), the most common of the psychiatric disorders that appear in childhood, are often the subject of great concern on the part of the parents and teachers. Children with ADHD are unable to stay focused on a task, cannot sit still, they act without thinking and rarely follow through on projects they start. If untreated, the disorder can have a long term effect on a childs ability to make friends or do well at school or in other activities. Over time, children with ADHD may develop depression, lack of self-esteem and other emotional problems. Until the last decade, it was believed that Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) was a disorder limited to childhood which would disappear during adolescence. Through years of research, it is now known that many ...
