With the growing number of children and adults who are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, significant efforts to raise more awareness, as well as to educate the public are being done. Among those who are active in this line of work is the Attention Deficit Resource Network or the ADRN, a non-profit community volunteer group

A few months ago, the ADRN conducted a free workshop on ADD/ADHD. The workshop was spearheaded by Dr. Atilla Turgay, MD. FRCP, an internationally renowned psychiatrist and ADD/ADHD specialist. He has an active involvement in international research concerning ADD/ADHD.

The workshop was a successful event as it served the purpose of allowing more and more people to understand, basically, what the nature, cause, effect, and effective control and management of ADD/ADHD are. Aside from this, the workshop also shed light to the families of children and adults who were found to have ADD/ADHD on certain techniques and strategies that will enable everybody in the family to cope better with the situation at hand.

Teenagers with ADHD often pose challenges to even the most experienced parents. This is an understatement. But come to think of it, if a kid with ADHD has a tendency to suffer from depression and low self-esteem, how much more difficult and complicated will the case be when he or she grows up? These are among the issues raised by the parents of ADHD pre-adolescents.

It may not be fit to solicit advise on how to conduct effective parenting to ADHD teens, as the cases on ADHD are unique and extremely sensitive. However, there are institutions who can provide theraph sessions and counseling services to the parents of those who are suffering from ADHD, as well as the patients themselves. For caring, efficient, and confidential services, please contact the numbers below:

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
202-966-7300

American Psychiatric Association
1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1825
Arlington, VA 22209-3901
888-357-7924

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit Disorder
800-233-4050

I have a neighbor who has an extremely hyperactive little boy. While most of us in our neighborhood are fond with the kid, we couldn’t help but notice his “unusual” energy level, as well as his apparent inability to focus on anything. I guess his mother noticed those things about her child,too. Because a few months after the kid’s 8^th birthday, his mother took him to a specialist. He was diagnosed with a behavioral disorder.

Parents tend to think that all children are normally hyperactive, and that at their young age, children have difficulty in following instructions. They think it is natural for their children to behave this way.

Little did they know that these are the symptoms of ADHD.

What, exactly, is ADHD? ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common behavioral disorder among children. Contrary to popular belief, ADHD is not caused by poor parenting, nor is it caused by too much sweets or vaccines.

Although there is no definite data on the root cause of ADHD, some researchers claim that genetic factors may trigger the onset of ADHD. According to them, ADHD is more common in children who has a relative that was also afflicted with the same disorder. The brain size of the children with ADHD are also smaller by 5% to 10%, as compared to normal children.

According to experts on ADHD, this disorder cannot be cured. It could, however, be managed successfully. Right now, there are generally two types of medication that are being used to treat ADHD. Stimulants are the traditional medication used to treat ADHD. However, its effect is on a short-termbasis of about 4 to 12 hours only. Plus, certain side effects as an effect of using this type of medication were also noted by physicians, some of these are: decreased appetite, stomach ache, irritability, and insomnia. On the other hand, nonstimulants may also be used to treat ADHD. This type of medication has fewer side effects and can last up to 24 hours.

Having ADHD is bad enough, finding out that it cannot be cured is even worse. But on a more positive note, experts say that proper treatment and support from the family can help a child manage his or her ADHD.