Is it hard for your child to sit still? Does your child act without thinking first? Does your child start but not finish things? If so, your child may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD for short.) Nearly everyone shows some of these behaviors at times, but ADHD lasts more than 6 months and causes problems in school, at home and in social situations.
ADHD is more common in boys than girls, and it affects 3-5 percent of children in the United States. The principal characteristics of ADHD are
- Inattention
- Hyperactivity
- Impulsivity
No one knows exactly what causes ADHD. It runs in families, so genetics may be a factor. A complete evaluation by a trained professional is the only way to know for sure if your child has ADHD. Treatment often includes medicines to control symptoms. Structure at home and at school is also important. Parenting classes or behavioral therapy may also help.
Now comes news that the mainstay of ADHD in children, Ritalin, may change chemistry of young brains.
Brain regions linked to attention deficit disorder, also include areas of higher executive function, addiction, appetite, social relationships and stress.
Research done on rats has found that the neurochemistry of this region changes when ritalin is administered. Changes in rats have been reversible.
However, these changes were in healthy brains. What happens in brains already awry via ADHD is another story. No one knows what may happen.
One more complicated cog in the wheel of ADHD treatment for children!
"One thing to remember is that these young animals had normal, healthy brains," said Dr. Milner "In ADHD-affected brains, where the neurochemistry is already somewhat awry, or the brain might be developing too fast, these changes might help 'reset' that balance in a healthy way. On the other hand, in brains without ADHD, Ritalin might have a more negative effect. We just don't know yet."
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