HOME  •  HEALTH  •  LIBRARY  •  AREAS  •  CENTERS  •  BOARDS  •  CHATS  •  JOIN FREE

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
MDAdvice.com Home > Health Topics > Informative Material >

Attention Deficit Disorder

Description

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is a neurobehavioral disorder that affects 3-5 percent of all American children. It interferes with a person's ability to sustain attention or focus on a task and some patients may be unable to control impulsive behavior. Some of the warning signs of ADD include failure to listen to instructions, inability to organize oneself and school work, fidgeting with hands and feet, talking too much, leaving projects, chores and homework unfinished, and having trouble paying attention to both minor and important details.

Treatment

The usual course of treatment may include medications such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) or pemoline (Cylert), which are stimulants that decrease impulsivity and hyperactivity and increase attention. Most experts agree that treatment for ADD should address multiple aspects of the individual's functioning and should not be limited to the use of medications alone. Treatment should include individual tutoring, parent education (to address discipline and limit-setting), and individual or group behavioral therapy (or both) for the child.

Prognosis

There is no "cure" for ADD. Children with the disorder seldom outgrow it; however, some may find adaptive ways to accommodate the ADD as they mature.

Research

Several components of the NIH support research on developmental disorders such as ADD. Research programs of the NINDS, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) seek to address unanswered questions about the causes of ADD, as well as to improve diagnosis and treatment.

These articles, available from a medical library, may provide more in-depth information on ADD:

• "Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Recent Literature." Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 40:7; 699-707 (July 1989).
• "Attention Deficit Disorder: Current Perspectives." Pediatric Neurology, 3:3; 129-135 (1987).
• "Attention-Deficit Disorder in Adults." Clinical Therapeutics, 14:2; 138- 147 (1992).
• "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder--Residual Type." Journal of Child Neurology, 6; S44-S50 (1991).
• "Diagnosis and Management of Attention Deficit Disorder: A Pediatric Perspective." Pediatric Clinics of North America, 31:2; 429-457 (April 1984).
• To Obtain Suggested Resources (click)...

Information may also be available from the following organizations:

Attention Deficit Information Network, Inc. (AD-IN)
475 Hillside Avenue
Needham, MA 02194-1207
(617) 455-9895

Children with Attention Deficit Disorder (CHADD)
499 NW 70th Avenue
Suite 109
Plantation, FL 33317
(305) 587-3700
(800) 233-4050

ADHD Challenge
P.O. Box 2277
West Peabody, MA 01960-7277
(508) 535-3366
(800) 233-2322

National Center for Learning Disabilities, Inc.
381 Park Avenue South
Suite 1420
New York, NY 10016
(212) 545-7510

Learning Disabilites Association of America
4156 Library Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15234-1349
(412) 341-1515
(412) 341-8077

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Building 31, Room 2A32
Bethesda, MD 20892-2425
(301) 496-5133

National Institute of Mental Health
5600 Fishers Lane , Room 7C02
Rockville, MD 20857-8030
(301) 443-4515

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892
Last Edited: July 29, 1997

 Home  |  Help  |  Feedback  |  Privacy Policy  |  Register  |  Contact Us  |  Visitor Survey  |  Subscribe to HealthMail  |  Advertising  |  About MDAdvice.com

Copyright © The Online Medical Network Inc. All rights reserved. All material provided by MDAdvice.com is intended for informative purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. Use of this site indicates your agreement with the Terms of Use.