ADHD
By Ji Mun
Photographics Editor
The exact cause of ADHD is not known but research shows that genetics play a big role in ADHD. A child is 70 % more likely to have ADHD if the child’s parent has ADHD. Studies also show that diet and nutrient are vital to the brain. Lack of nutrients could be or lead to the cause of ADHD. The lesser contributing factors are food allergy and sensitivity. Children with damages from drug and alcohol exposure are often misdiagnosed for having genetically-based ADHD.
The parts of the brain that is affected by ADHD are frontal lobes, inhibitory mechanisms of the cortex, limbic system, and the reticular activating system. ADHD could affect one, two, or three of these areas and thus result in different types of ADHD. There are different severities and many different cases or types of ADHD.
The frontal lobes help in paying attention to tasks, to focus, in making good decisions, behaving appropriately in situations, planning ahead, learning and remembering what one has learned. The inhibitory mechanisms help one from being hyperactive, saying inappropriate or irrelevant things, and help one control behaviors. The limbic system is the base of emotions. Mood swings, quick temper outburst, being able to cope poorly with stress, and having troubling sleep routines are some of the possible results when the limbic system is affected.
Children with ADHD mostly have an average I.Q. just as children without ADHD do. There is no side effect of being brighter or below average intelligence from having ADHD.. Children with ADHD might not be able to sit still or pay attention to the lessons or topics for a long time and thus receive lower academic grades. However, most students can succeed in classroom settings and in school with some aid.
Before assuming that one has ADHD, it is important to get a solid diagnose from a certified medical doctor. Educational professionals and teachers cannot provide an accurate diagnosis and parents’ observation would most likely to be biased
Having a healthy diet with the necessary nutrition could help significantly if the ADHD is caused from lack of nutrition. A study in 1996 showed important relations between essential fatty acids and ADHD. Amino acids and zinc are also essential for the brain to function properly.
Adapting teaching and parenting skill to help the child understand his/her strength and weakness could be one of the treatments. The child would learn to organize and evaluate his/her abilities and performances and gain the feeling of control over him/herself and also could gain self-confidence.
It is possible to out-grow the symptoms is this disorder. 50 to 60% of the children who suffer from ADHD will outgrow their ADD/ADHD symptoms by the age of 20. There is a final spurt of growth on the frontal lobe of the brain at around the age or 19 or 20. Although this growth spurt does not create a big difference for people without ADHD, it could help greatly for ones with ADHD. The hyperactivity may diminish although impulsivity and attention could stay as a person who has ADHD until they become adults.