Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a developmental disorder with symptoms becoming first noticeable in children of seven years of age. It effects anywhere between 3-5 percent of children globally and is one of the most commonly studied psychiatric disorders in children. It is estimated that about 5 percent of adults currently live with Attention Deficit Disorder, with twice as many diagnosed males than females. Although some people are correctly diagnosed, treated and learn to cope with the disorder, there have been an overwhelmingly large number of people who have been misdiagnosed. Usually this occurs due to incorrect interpretation of certain behavioral problems that children have, by teachers and improper training of professionals in diagnosing the attention deficit disorder. Due to this as well as the treatment mechanisms (discussed later), the entire issue of attention deficit disorder and its prominence in the population has become very controversial. Many individuals well educated in the field, believe that the disorder does not even exist. Many children, they say, do not adapt to classroom settings or four walled environments as well as others, and act out. The behavioral difficulty is then interpreted into something more than it is, and these children are unnecessarily placed on medication which has life long consequences. Opinions vary, but children continue to be diagnosed with ADD and treated as before.
Some key indicators of attention deficit disorder are hyperactivity, inattention and impulsiveness. Many other, more detailed, symptoms fall in these three major categories. Some of these include being easily distracted, becoming bored with a task after only a few minutes, struggling to follow simple instructions, be constantly in motion, and non stop talking. In addition to these, other symptoms include having trouble sitting still during class or dinner, impatience, and having difficulty processing information accurately and in a timely manner. Because it is difficult to draw the line between what is a normal level of these types of issues (as all children are inattentive and hyperactive to some extent) and what is problematic, there have been certain guidelines defined for concerned parents, teachers and professionals. The symptoms must generally be observed at two different settings for six months or more and the activities being scrutinized must be shown by the individual at a greater extent than peers of the same age.
Above are some of the signs and symptoms of attention deficit disorder. However, many people claim and just about every child shows these signs just by the virtue of being a child. Professionals have started to pay more attention to these claims and have started to narrow down the signs and symptoms that warrant the diagnosis of something as serious as ADD. In other words, they have drawn thicker lines of what is considered normal and abnormal behaviors. Today, it is generally believed that if a child exhibits the above behaviors to the points where it starts to interfere with their development, learning, and building of relationships, they can be considered abnormal and further diagnostic steps can be taken.
Once a child has been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, there are several treatment options. Generally speaking, the treatment of ADD is not referred to as such, rather it is called "management" of ADD. It consists of two parts. First is the psychosocial treatment which involves behavior therapies of various forms and intensities. Medications are the second form of management and usually consist of stimulants such as adderoll. Non stimulant medications include atomoxetine. There are no guidelines for when to prescribe which medication and generally, physicians prescribe based on a trial and error basis until they find the perfect treatment for their patient.