Understanding and diagnosing AD/HD, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, begins with learning the three types of AD/HD and recognizing that AD/HD can be exhibited through secondary symptoms as well. To cope with AD/HD, explore a number of treatment options and how they can be approached for better results.
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The Three Types of AD/HD
AD/HD looks different in almost everyone. You may have problems regulating yourself if you’re dealing with AD/HD. This can happen in areas of attention, behavior, and motor movements. The term attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) comes from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) and the DSM-IV outlines three basic types of AD/HD:
Predominantly inattentive type. Having this type of AD/HD means that you have difficulty focusing but are able to sit still. Classic symptoms include:
Making careless mistakes
Not seeming to listen as someone else speaks
Being disorganized or forgetting things
Having trouble focusing on a specific task
Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type. If you have this type of AD/HD, maintaining attention is less of a problem than being able to control your body movements or behaviors. The basic symptoms include:
Speaking or acting out of turn
Not considering consequences before acting
Fidgeting or feeling restless when trying to sit
`Being excessively physically or verbally active
Combined type. If you have a number of symptoms from both the inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive lists, you may have the combined type of AD/HD.
To have AD/HD, your symptoms must meet certain guidelines, including:
Existing for at least six months
Appearing before you were 7 years old
Having a significant impact on your life in more than one setting
Not being attributable to a different condition (such as bipolar disorder)
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Secondary Symptoms of AD/HD
AD/HD is not limited to the classic (or primary) symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Many other (secondary) symptoms exist that can negatively impact your life and can include, but aren’t limited to:
Worry
Boredom
Loss of motivation
Frustration
Low self-esteem
Sleep disturbances
Hopelessness
Procrastination
Difficulty getting along with others
Difficulty managing time or money
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Treatment Levels for AD/HD
A variety of ways exist to treat your AD/HD symptoms but treatment has to be addressed from three levels: biological, psychological, and social. This combined, or multimodal treatment approach is the most effective way to deal with AD/HD.
Biological
Biological treatments change the way your brain works. The change can be accomplished several ways and can be temporary or permanent, depending on the approach you take. The options include:
Medication
Diet
Vitamin supplements and herbal remedies
Repatterning therapies, such as neurofeedback, Rhythmic Entrainment Intervention, auditory integration training, and vision therapy
Rebalancing therapies, such as homeopathics, acupuncture, sensory integration therapies, and manipulation therapies (osteopathy, chiropractic, and CranioSacral Therapy).
Psychological
Psychological therapies help you deal with the feelings that come from your symptoms and understand how to change the way you think and act to improve your life. Psychological treatment strategies can include:
Counseling and psychotherapy, such as insight-oriented therapy, supportive therapy, play therapy, skills training, psychoeducational counseling, and parent training
Behavior management, such as behavior modification, cognitive-behavioral counseling, and awareness training
Social
Everyone needs certain skills in order to function in the world, but people with AD/HD often struggle with basic life strategies. After you deal with the biological issues associated with AD/HD, you need to start developing your social skills in the following areas:
Organization
Relationships
Communication
Lifestyle choices
Occupational skills
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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/adhd-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html
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