Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD)

ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder, is one of the most diagnosed mental disorders in the world; and is often misunderstood. Studies say that around 10-11% of children between the ages of 4-17 are diagnosed with ADHD* or ADD. This number is considerably large considering that it means every one in ten kids are diagnosed with this disorder. The large number is accounted for by misdiagnosis. There are several million cases of ADD, but many times it is confused with other disorders such as: Autism, Depression, Anxiety, Diabetes, Hypoglycemia, People having Thyroid Issues, Visual or Auditory Impairments, and Learning Disorders. The question is, “Why do people get misdiagnosed with ADD instead of these other disorders?” These disorders have many similarities with ADD, however they are not the same. Attention Deficit Disorder affects the brain directly. It causes Impulsiveness, Forgetfulness, Lack of Focus, Fidgeting, Disorganization, Recklessness, Restlessness, Inattention, Impatience, Daydreams, and Excessive Talking. Some of these symptoms are also prevalent in other disorders, Inattention, and Impatience are both found in both Depression and Autism. Symptoms that can correlate with other disorders is the most significant reason people are misdiagnosed with ADD. …show more content…
Medication is often used to control symptoms of ADD. The two major types of medicines being Stimulants and Non-Stimulants. Stimulants work by increasing the amount of Dopamine and Norepinephrine hormones in the brain. Studies show that people with ADD or ADHD have lower levels of Dopamine or have smaller carriers of Dopamine in the brain, so Stimulants are standardly used when first diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. Non-Stimulants do not release or increase the Dopamine or Norepinephrine levels in the brain and usually take longer to see the effects of the drug. Blood pressure medicines are the most common of these