ADD and ADHD are disorders that make it difficult to control behavior and learn at a normal pace from a young age into adulthood. They are caused by differences in brain structure and chemical levels that affect attention, self-control, and behavior. Studies have shown that children with ADHD reach peak brain development three years later than children without ADHD, though both have healthy development overall. Treatment options aim to reduce symptoms through stimulant medications, behavioral therapies, and support groups.

1. ADD & ADHD By: Marita Miguel

2. ADD (attention deficit disorder) ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) These conditions are very similar and develop in a child's younger years and can continue throughout adulthood. ADD & ADHD can make it difficult to control your behavior and learn at a normal pace. ADD/ADHD has three sub-groups: -Predominantly inattentive type -Predominantly hyperactive-impulse type -Combined type: Symptoms from each type are evident.

3. Common symptoms Inability to stay still, often move around a lot. difficulty paying attention to detail. often messy or careless easily distracted inability to sustain attention on tasks or activities difficulty concentrating Not able to keep one’s mind on conversations not able to follow simple rules at home, school, work feeling restless, often fidgeting with hands or feet, squirming while seated blurting out answers before hearing the whole question running, climbing, or leaving a seat in situations where sitting still or quiet behavior is expected. often becomes easily distracted by irrelevant sights and sounds often skipping from one incomplete task to another daydreaming or appearing “spacey”

4. Possible causes - Structure of the brain - Lack of chemicals called dopamine and norepinephrine that control attention. - When the frontal lobes of the brain have not developed enough for an adolescent to exercise self-control.

5. Causes Cont. Some believe other ADHD/ADD related causes can be due to: *A Mother’s use of cigarette’s, alcohol, or other drugs during pregnancy may increase the risk for ADHD. *Also it is thought that certain foods with sugars and food additives can be linked to the cause of ADHD but have lack of proof.

6. Neurobiology National institute of mental health conducted a study in Nov. 07. This study was done to compare the thickening of the cortex tissue with a child diagnosed with ADHD and a child without the disorder. The study concluded that each child’s cortex tissue became thicker during childhood and thinned after puberty, this is called synaptic pruning. this is normal for the brain to get rid of unused neural connectors. The study concluded that each child successfully achieved peak thickness. However the ADHD child reached their peak at age 7.5. Subjects without ADHD reached peak thickness around the age of 10.5. The ADHD child had a 3 year delay. This area controls thinking, attention, and planning. Both children had healthy brain development despite the ADHD child developing a little slower.

7. Neurobiology Cont. Frontal lobes- Help us to pay attention to tasks, making good decisions, planning ahead, keeping focus and concentration, frontal lobes also give us the tools to behave in in a appropriately for a given situation, frontal lobes also control emotions such as anger, frustration, and irritability. Limbic system- Is the home of our emotions. If the limbic system is over-activated, a person might have wide mood swings, or quick temper outbursts. Might also be “over-aroused” causing a person to be quick to startle, touching everything around them, and also very hyper-vigilant. Several areas of the brain are affected by ADD/ADHD disorders. *hyper-vigilant- abnormally increased arousal, responsiveness to stimuli, and screening of the environment for threats; it is often associated with delusional or paranoid states.

8. Helpful videos ADHD- Right brain vs. Left brain: " http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ah55heRTnyk " http://youtu.be/u82nzTzL7To ADHD and the brain: How ADHD affects your brain: http://youtu.be/O8w0p4WCWiY

9. Treatment There is not a cure for attention deficit disorders. However, there are treatment options for symptoms related to all forms of the disorder. Stimulant drugs are often used to treat ADD/ADHD symptoms such as, Ritalin and Adderall. There are non-drug related treatments for ADD/ADHD. behavioral therapy, family therapy, social skills therapy. A Also, support groups are very important so the person suffering the disorder does not feel alone and can learn to relate to others and gain confidence from those who share some of the same issues they are experiencing Treatment and education is vital to those who suffer and loved ones. With proper treatment a person with ADD/ADHD can fully function and fit into society comfortably with fewer symptoms.

10. http://www.adhd.org.nz/neuro1.html -I used this site to get information about the neurobiology of ADD/ADHD. http://newideas.net/adhd/neurology -Also used for information relating to the neurobiology of the ADD/ADHD brain. http://www.addcoach4u.com/addandyourbrain.html -More information about the Neurobiology. Psychology, Tenth edition, Carole Wade and Carol Travis, Prentice Hall 2011, Pages 556 http://www . attentiondeficit-add-adhd.com/adhd-brain-study.htm -This is where I descovered the study done to track the thickness and developement of ADHD children and non ADHD children. Brain: The complete Mind, Michael Sweeney, National Geographic Society, 2009. Pages 87-97. I used this area of the book for information related to the topic and definitions to help me understand better. What Causes ADHD?: Understanding what goes wrong and why, Nigg, Joel T. Guilford Press New York, NY. - This book was very helpful and loaded with information on this topic, I used it for many different catergories. Bibliography