ADHD In Children

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Did you know one out of ten children have ADHD, or attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, in the United States (Belsky, 2010)? The diagnosis of this disorder has been skyrocketing in the recent years. It is the most common learning disorder in the United States, disproportionality affecting boys, meaning boys are more likely to get the disorder than girls. The illness is characterized by excessive restlessness and distractibility at home and at school (Belsky, 2010). ADHD has many possible causes, characteristics, and treatments. There are an array of possible causes for ADHD. One of the most widely accepted ideas is that a child’s brain with the disorder outputs a low amount of dopamine, the chemical that is released when a person …show more content…
However, the medication only works well when combined with parent and caregiver training (Belsky 2010). If a child’s lack of focus and hyperactivity get to a point where they need medications are few common psycho-stimulant drugs are Adderall, Dexedrine, Ritalin, Focalin, and Methylin ("ADHD Medication Chart: Compare ADD and ADHD Drugs"). However, these drugs are only short lived and the symptoms return as soon as the treatment stops. In addition to medication, parent training is crucial to helping a child with ADHD. Parents should pay attention to positive acts instead of negative acts. For example, if a child spills milk pouring himself a glass instead of chastising them for spilling it, praise them for attempting to pour the milk on their own. Also, offer concrete awards to help boost brain dopamine production. Rewarding children for completing a task is a great way to help with their hyperactivity and focus problems. Proving academic tasks in a video gaming format (Belsky, 2010) will help the children of today retain more information because they are so used to being in front of a screen that they will not know the difference from playing a fun game and learning. In addition, getting children involved in sports or exercise can assist and run some of the hyperactivity