Beyond ADHD... The Real Child

(NC)—Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobiological disorder that affects three to seven per cent of children. The disorder causes difficulties concentrating, sitting still, controlling emotions and listening. ADHD is one of the best-researched psychological disorders and the overall data on its validity are far more compelling than for most mental disorders. It is officially recognized by the World Health Organization.

Children with ADHD are not problem children, but children who have difficulty functioning. These difficulties can be addressed. These children often have special characteristics, such as being energetic, adventurous, intelligent, having a great sense of humor and the ability to throw themselves into their goals. Unfortunately, these characteristics sometimes go unnoted strictly because the difficulties caused by ADHD always seem to be front and centre.

The tendency of children with ADHD to be disorganized, forgetful and easily distracted sometimes makes it hard for their true colours to shine, but the potential is there and often just needs a helping hand.

Physicians, parents and educators routinely offer guidance by teaching children with ADHD that the disorder is a challenge, not an excuse. With the help of medication, which can correct the underlying chemical imbalance, along with appropriate counseling, they have a fair chance of reaching their full potential.

All medications currently approved to treat ADHD belong to a class called stimulants. A number of new investigational ADHD treatments offer great promise and in the future Canadians will have more choice in ADHD treatment.

Research has shown that up to 60 per cent of children continue to have symptoms into adulthood and this can cause career difficulties due to disorganization and attention deficiencies, but those who adapt to their condition as children can thrive personally and professionally.

For more information on ADHD, please visit your doctor.

- News Canada

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Written by: News Canada

Many Children With ADHD Not Being Treated
In contrast to claims that children are being overmedicated for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder , a team of researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St.

Guidelines For Choosing A Treatment Program For A Teen With ADD Or ADHD
Many adolescents who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) experience a number of behavioral and academic problems that can limi... [Author: Russ Bundy - Parenting - October 17, 2006]

Children 'believe ADHD is contagious'
CHILDREN have alarming misconceptions about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder including that it is contagious, an academic warns.

ADHD raises teens` accident risk
WASHINGTON, DC, United States -- Teenage drivers afflicted with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder face an even greater risk of car accidents, already

ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER: Research links ADHD to tobacco smoke, lead
About one-third of attention-deficit cases among U.S. children may be linked with tobacco smoke before birth or to lead exposure afterward, according to provocative new research.

ADHD Costly Before and After Diagnosis
Children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) use more health services in the two years before and two years after they are diagnosed than do children without ADHD.

Preschoolers' ADHD treatment studied
The results of the first long-term, large-scale U.S. study of preschoolers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have been released.

FDA announces stronger warning for ADHD drugs
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration on Monday announced changes to the labels for Dexedrine, an amphetamine used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy, to war...