ADD, or attention deficit disorder, is a term that is often used interchangeably with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. “Deficit” means “a lack of.” A person with attention deficit disorder has a hard time paying attention. He or she may have problems concentrating on tasks, especially those that require long periods of concentration. People with ADD lose sight of details and find it hard to keep themselves and their things organized.
ADHD has an additional component of hyperactivity and impulsivity. Hyperactivity describes people who are always on the go. Children with ADHD are observed to have difficulty standing and sitting still, more so than other children. They find it hard to keep quiet and are usually very talkative.
Impulsivity describes people who want to do things right away without waiting for the appropriate time. Often, they act before thinking of the consequences. Children with ADHD find it hard to wait their turn. They may constantly interrupt others during conversation without waiting for other people to finish talking. They may also try to butt into activities or games even when it is not appropriate. Someone with ADHD wants payoff right away–he or she finds it difficult to delay getting a reward or a treat even if he or she knows doing so will result in a bigger reward.
Don’t all children act that way?
Although all children tend to be hyperactive or impulsive to some degree, children with ADHD exhibit these behaviors with more frequency and severity. Usually, by a certain age and level of development, one can expect a child to learn how to behave appropriately in different settings. Children with ADHD are inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive in both at home and school. Their behavior reaches the point where their school performance is severely affected. They may also have problems getting along with other children. They may not be able to keep track of any assigned household chores. They may require more attention and discipline than their siblings, causing some strain in the family.
If a child is well-behaved at home but is disruptive in school, the problem is not due to ADD/ADHD. Similarly, a child who does well in school but has difficulty getting along with family members or coping with social situations does not have ADD/ADHD. To truly say that a child has ADD/ADHD, the symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity must be present most or all of the time, whether the child is at home or in school.
Are children the only ones with ADD/ADHD? Can adults also have this condition?
Children with ADHD show symptoms before they are seven years of age. If symptoms similar to ADD/ADHD appear after a child turns seven, it is considered to be due to another disorder or condition.
ADD/ADHD symptoms may persist into adolescence and even up to adulthood. Usually, adults only have ADD, losing the hyperactivity component. This is because brain development and learned behaviour contribute to decreasing hyperactivity. The hyperactivity symptoms usually start decreasing during the teenage years. However, some adults can still have ADHD. ADD/ADHD can be especially difficult in adolescence and adulthood. Teenagers and adults with ADD/ADHD are still very impulsive and accident prone. They may have more difficulty obtaining higher education. Early in their working life, adults with ADD/ADHD may have a similar performance and track record as other adults with the same level of education. However, they may have more difficulty with employment later on. They may find it hard to keep a job or stay in one place of employment long term. They commonly have less outstanding achievements in the workplace. Adults with ADD/ADHD may also have problems with personal relationships. They may find it hard to have long term romantic relationships. They are also likely to have difficulties with their marriage.
How widespread is ADD/ADHD?
Worldwide, ADD/ADHD affects about 8-12% of school-age children. In the United States, it is estimated that up to 7% of children are affected. A good number of these children continue to have ADD/ADHD symptoms as adults. Some experts believe that only 15-20% of children continue to have ADD/ADHD as adults. However, other experts estimate that as many as 65% of these children go on to have ADD/ADHD in adulthood.
Over the years, ADD/ADHD has been more commonly diagnosed in boys than in girls. However, the difference between the number of boys compared to the number of girls with ADD/ADHD has been growing smaller. This could be due to experts knowing more about this condition, and thus being able to better identify ADD/ADHD in girls. Girls with ADD/ADHD may have been overlooked before. This is because girls sometimes show ADD/ADHD symptoms in different ways. They may not be as hyperactive as boys with ADD/ADHD. However, their performance in school and home can be severely affected by profound symptoms of inattention and difficulty concentrating.