What You Should Know about Attention Deficit Disorder
Statistics show that as many as 4.4% of adults actually have some degree of Attention Deficit Disorder. Statistics show that people with this disorder are less likely to achieve academically and can have difficulty holding down long-term, full-time employment.
ADD is actually caused by problems with the brains dopamine neurotransmitter systems. An old theory that ADD can be caused by poor diet has now been disproven. Neither is it the result of bad parenting. Genetics are the biggest cause with most cases of ADD inherited from parents. If a close family member or a parent has ADD then there is a 30% chance that a child will exhibit the same condition.
During childhood the symptoms of ADD can be very clear. Child development traverses three distinct phases. The first takes place when they are babies and they start to focus on an object such as a rattle or a mobile. The object will engage their focus for a limited period of time.
The next stage will be familiar to parents of toddlers as this is when their attention is continuously shifting from one thing to another. If a child continues to show this type of behaviour they are likely to be diagnosed as having ADD.
The third stage is when a child develops the ability to focus on an object or a task for longer periods of time and they are able to shift this focus at will. This ability is precisely what is required in the classroom.
One of the key aspects of ADD is not only that sufferers can’t focus on something for very long. ADD sufferers can’t choose what they are focusing on or what attracts their attention. This can become very apparent when undertaking a routine task like crossing the road. If they are required to wait then their attention can quickly be drawn to something else.
In the ADD sufferers brain there is inadequate stimulus to release neuro chemicals and this forces them to look for something else. For ADD sufferers this is a reflex reaction over which they have no control.
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I hope that these brief notes have provided some insight into the causes of ADD. There are many forms of treatment including drugs, but one effective therapy involves a lot of outdoor activity. Bushcraft courses can be a great way to learn about the outdoors at any time of year. Just make sure you are wrapped up in some warm outdoor clothing and you take along a good sleeping bag.
