Seven Things to Know About ADHD Right Now

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Key Points About ADHD in Children and Teens
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  • ADHD is a Neuro-Biological Disorder
  • Inattention to boring tasks
  • Focus it is hard to stay focused to the right thing
  • Self-Control it can be hard to maintain self-control, causing impulsive behaviors
  • Hyperactivity is excessive, non-goal directed motor activity
  • Easily bored unless doing something really exciting or stimulating
  • ADHD is a problem with "working memory," "inhibition," and "executive functions."

Just what exactly is ADHD ?

ADHD is the short abbreviation for "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder", which is a diagnostic label for children with a particular neuro-biological disorder. About nine-percent of children and teens have this condition in the United States, making it one of the most common childhood behavior disorders. Of all children referred to counselors or other mental health professionals, more are referred for ADHD than for any other condition.

ADHD is a chronic and unrelenting problem. And those children, teens, and even adults with ADHD will have problems in many of the areas of their life, including home, school, work, and in relationships. Our new eBook on Marriage and ADHD may be helpful for those adults who are married to someone with ADHD and find that they are struggling a little bit in their marriage. See more below.

Though ADHD may change a bit through the years as the person matures, it will usually last into adulthood in one way or another. Read more about Seven Things to Know About ADHD Right Now

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ADHD in the DSM 5 Revision

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The diagnostic criteria for ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, has been updated, revised, and slightly changed in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). They are hoping to better describe the experience of adults, both men and women, who have ADHD, not just children and adolescents.

This revision is based on nearly two decades of research showing that ADHD, although a condition that starts in childhood, may continue through adulthood for some people. Earlier editions of DSM did not offer appropriate guidance to clinicians in diagnosing adults with the condition. By modifying criteria for adults, DSM-5 aims to ensure that anyone with ADHD can continue to get care over the course of their lives if needed. Read more about ADHD in the DSM 5 Revision

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New ADHD Diet Information Website Now Available

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The ADHD Diet program has been revised for 2013, and written up as an eBook in PDF format. We have built a new website for it at the ADHD Diet Information site. We have the full 21 minutes information video there for you to view and get lots of good information on making any eating program for ADHD work. And we also have our revised ADHD diet program available to download for just $20. It's worth it. Read more about New ADHD Diet Information Website Now Available

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Brain Development Delays in ADHD

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Brain imaging studies show that the brains of those with ADHD are different from those without ADHD in terms of size, activity, and development. Certain regions of the ADHD brain can be as much as 10% smaller than those without ADHD. And areas such as the frontal lobes, cerebellum, and anterior cingulate, can be very under-active compared to normal. These areas can also be as much as two to three years behind in development compared to normal. These differences will remain through the life of a person with ADHD.

ADHD impacts various systems of the brain, particularly systems involved with "executive functions", "inhibition", and "working memory". Most of these involve the activity of the frontal lobes, and the interaction of the frontal lobes with other structures of the brain acting as a "system". But since the frontal lobes are smaller, less active, and behind in development, each of these systems is impacted to some degree. As other areas of the brain are also affected, the look or type of ADHD is different.

Many studies are looking at how the ADHD brain matures in children and teens, and how it matures differently than someone without ADHD. We have discussed this at the ADHD Information Library considering both brain development in children, and in teenagers. One recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health and led by Dr. Philip Shaw considered this important issue. Their research is published in Biological Psychiatry. Read more about Brain Development Delays in ADHD

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ADHD Teen Problems : Anti-Social Behaviors and ADHD

Submitted by Douglas Cowan P... on

Douglas Cowan Psy.D. MFT's picture
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Anti-Social Behaviors and ADHD

Here is the brief article on ADHD that generates the most hate email that I get. I'm not sure why. I don't cause ADHD in kids and teens, and I have spent most of my adult life trying to help children and teens with Attention Deficit Disorder. But what follows are the hard facts that parents, social workers, and physicians need to come to grips with. ADHD is not a simple disorder to treat - and we must work to treat each individual, not just a diagnosis. Here are the facts about ADHD and anti-social behaviors. Please read them carefully before sending me one of those angry "anti-social" email responses. We don't make the news, we just report it. Thanks.

Anti-social behaviors are common with ADHD individuals. About 60% of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder kids are also oppositional or defiant. Some are even getting in trouble with the law. Impulsive-Hyperactive ADHD kids are the most likely to get into trouble than are the Inattentive ADHD kids, as they tend to crave the stimulation of anti-social behaviors, and impulsively "act-out". Because they are impulsive, they don't plan their crimes well, and are usually easily caught. Read more about ADHD Teen Problems : Anti-Social Behaviors and ADHD

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