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WHAT IS ADHD?
What is AD/HD?
AD/HD, ADHD, or ADD, all different names for the
same syndrome, is a family of chronic
neurobiological disorders that affect our
capacity to attend to tasks (inattention),
inhibit behavior (impulsivity), and regulate
activity level (hyperactivity) in
developmentally appropriate ways. These
impairments are in what are called our executive
functions, which also include our capacity for
planning, sequencing, problem solving,
initiation of action, and self-control. When our
executive functions are impaired, our behavior
can be affected in the following ways:
· We have trouble staying focused on a task
· We show great initiative, but poor
follow-through
· We have poor planning and timing skills
· We are disorganized
· We interrupt in conversations
· We act without thinking
· We have trouble sitting still
While any of us
might have one or all of these troubles at some
time in our lives, it is the intensity,
duration, and pervasiveness of the symptoms that
differentiate ADD as a disorder.
Today, we know that ADD first appears in
childhood, frequently continues into
adolescence, and often persists into adulthood.
Current research suggests approximately 3 to 5
percent of school age children have ADD. Some
studies suggest even more. We know that ADD
exists worldwide and that it has a strong
genetic component. We know that other conditions
are often present with ADD, conditions such as
depression, anxiety, and learning disabilities.
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