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What is ADD / ADHD?
The terms ADD and ADHD have become synonymous in much of the press and industry to refer to the same general problem - an adult or child with attention deficit and hyperactivity issues.
Around 5% of the population has some form of ADD or ADHD, both adults and children. While adults may learn to manage their symptoms better, ADD and ADHD are not as children-targeted as many think.
One problem with diagnosing ADD and ADHD in today´s society is that the general pace of society is hurried and frantic. It is hard to distinguish between a normal harried working mother, for example, and a person who would be that frazzled even in a calm situation. Children are often energetic and enthusiastic, which does not necessarily mean they have ADD or ADHD.
The things which medical professionals watch for include:
- restlessness, fidgiting, and hyperactivity above normal for that age
- spontaneous behavior, doing things without thinking, lack of consequence awareness
- inability to follow directions, making easily avoided mistakes, being distracted easily
As you can see, just about everybody has these things happen at one time in their lives. The medical professional has to determine if these are going on constantly, and if they impair the normal life of the person.
