Post by Veronika on Nov 4, 2003 16:44:19 GMT -5
What Causes ADD?
Studies on brain modeling and brain imaging show differences in the brains of children with ADD. However, the causes of these differences are not yet known. Most scientists suspect the cause of ADD is genetic or biological, although they acknowledge that environment helps determine the specific behaviors of an individual child.
Some believe ADD may be caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters (chemicals used by the brain to control behavior) or by abnormal glucose metabolism in the central nervous system.
In addition, a child may develop ADD because of problems in the child's development before birth or neurological damage. Frequently, the same biological factors that influence ADD may also affect learning disabilities, since many children display signs of both. While some people claim that ADD is caused by food additives, sugar, yeast, or the actions of parents, there is no evidence to support these beliefs.
What Can We Do About ADD?
While there is no known cure for ADD, the effects of ADD can be reduced through an approach that combines medicine, psychology, and education. Medication produces a clear and immediate shortterm effect in behavior, but should not be used as the only treatment, because the longterm effectiveness of drugs is unclear.
Stimulants such as Ritalin, Dexedrine, and Cylert allow the brain and nervous system to communicate with the rest of the body more effectively, which improves attention span, concentration, motor control, and ontask behavior, while reducing hyperactivity.
From 60 to 90 percent of schoolaged children with ADD are treated with stimulant medication for a prolonged period of time. However, medication is not a total solution. While studies show that stimulants effectively calm 70 percent of children with ADD, this effect decreases over time, and most studies show that medication results in few longterm benefits on academic achievement and social adjustment.
In addition, medication may have sideeffects. Some children lose weight, lose their appetite, or have problems falling asleep. Less common side effects include slowed growth, a tic disorder, and problems with thinking or with social interaction. These effects usually can be eliminated by reducing the dosage or changing to a different medication.
An effective non-medical treatment is to help children learn how to control their behavior. Many teachers and parents use a form of positive reinforcement in which the child is rewarded for good behavior. This sometimes is combined with negative reinforcement, in which the reward (or the points used to reach the reward) is removed for bad behavior. Children with ADD perform best when they have an organized structure with consistent rules so that they can clearly understand what they are doing and what they should do next.
Psychologists and social workers can work with children with ADD on their selfesteem, anxiety, and social skills. They can help children understand their problem and develop coping mechanisms to succeed.
Teachers, parents, doctors and other health care professionals can work together to devise a plan to improve behavior and to develop alternate methods of education. General teachers should work with special education teachers to establish methods for adapting their regular curriculum and teaching techniques to the needs and abilities of students with ADD. Parents and teachers should communicate regularly to avoid confusing children with ADD with different strategies and expectations.
TEXT
Studies on brain modeling and brain imaging show differences in the brains of children with ADD. However, the causes of these differences are not yet known. Most scientists suspect the cause of ADD is genetic or biological, although they acknowledge that environment helps determine the specific behaviors of an individual child.
Some believe ADD may be caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters (chemicals used by the brain to control behavior) or by abnormal glucose metabolism in the central nervous system.
In addition, a child may develop ADD because of problems in the child's development before birth or neurological damage. Frequently, the same biological factors that influence ADD may also affect learning disabilities, since many children display signs of both. While some people claim that ADD is caused by food additives, sugar, yeast, or the actions of parents, there is no evidence to support these beliefs.
What Can We Do About ADD?
While there is no known cure for ADD, the effects of ADD can be reduced through an approach that combines medicine, psychology, and education. Medication produces a clear and immediate shortterm effect in behavior, but should not be used as the only treatment, because the longterm effectiveness of drugs is unclear.
Stimulants such as Ritalin, Dexedrine, and Cylert allow the brain and nervous system to communicate with the rest of the body more effectively, which improves attention span, concentration, motor control, and ontask behavior, while reducing hyperactivity.
From 60 to 90 percent of schoolaged children with ADD are treated with stimulant medication for a prolonged period of time. However, medication is not a total solution. While studies show that stimulants effectively calm 70 percent of children with ADD, this effect decreases over time, and most studies show that medication results in few longterm benefits on academic achievement and social adjustment.
In addition, medication may have sideeffects. Some children lose weight, lose their appetite, or have problems falling asleep. Less common side effects include slowed growth, a tic disorder, and problems with thinking or with social interaction. These effects usually can be eliminated by reducing the dosage or changing to a different medication.
An effective non-medical treatment is to help children learn how to control their behavior. Many teachers and parents use a form of positive reinforcement in which the child is rewarded for good behavior. This sometimes is combined with negative reinforcement, in which the reward (or the points used to reach the reward) is removed for bad behavior. Children with ADD perform best when they have an organized structure with consistent rules so that they can clearly understand what they are doing and what they should do next.
Psychologists and social workers can work with children with ADD on their selfesteem, anxiety, and social skills. They can help children understand their problem and develop coping mechanisms to succeed.
Teachers, parents, doctors and other health care professionals can work together to devise a plan to improve behavior and to develop alternate methods of education. General teachers should work with special education teachers to establish methods for adapting their regular curriculum and teaching techniques to the needs and abilities of students with ADD. Parents and teachers should communicate regularly to avoid confusing children with ADD with different strategies and expectations.
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