Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a medical disorder that affects the brain. It is characterized by inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive symptoms. There is no single cause of ADHD but it has been linked to genetic and environmental factors such as head injuries and prenatal exposure to alcohol or smoking. Brain scans of children with ADHD show differences in areas related to attention including smaller frontal lobe and cerebellum volumes. Common treatments include stimulant medications and behavior therapy which can help manage symptoms and prevent associated problems if identified and treated early. Untreated ADHD can increase risks of substance abuse, legal troubles, and other issues due to impaired impulse control.

1. Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder
BY:
JANIS S KYZER

2. Systems
The symptoms of ADHD fall
into three groups:
Inattentive symptoms
 Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless
mistakes in schoolwork
 Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
 Has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
 Avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort
 Often loses things, forgetful in daily activities
 Is easily distracted

3. Hyperactivity symptoms:
 Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
 Leaves seat when remaining seated is expected
 Runs about or climbs in inappropriate situations
 Has difficulty playing quietly
 Is often "on the go," acts as if "driven by a motor," talks
excessively

4. Impulsivity symptoms:
o Blurts out answers before questions have been
completed
o Has difficulty awaiting turn
o Interrupts or intrudes on others

5. Causes of ADHD
 Experts do know that ADHD has a strong genetic in
recessive gene component.
 There is no single cause for ADHD. Scientists agree that
ADHD is a medical disorder affecting the several areas of
the brain.
 Children who have had head injuries, particularly an
injury to the frontal lobe.
 Has been diagnosed in children whose mothers smoked
or drank alcohol during pregnancy.

6. o A study involving 544 MRIs from children with ADHD has provided
evidence that ADHD is associated with an atypical pattern of brain
development that appears in early childhood.
WHICH ARE AS FOLLOWS
o Frontal lobe volume is smaller, less active has less white matter.
o Total cerebral volume is smaller.
o There is a relative decrease in the size of the cerebellum
o Various regions of the basal ganglia, particularly the caudate
nucleus, have been reported to be smaller

7. Organs/Hormones
Involved in ADHD
o ADHD affects only the brain.
o Neurotransmitters; changes to their norepinephrine
transporter gene, which affects norepinephrine levels in
their brains and to their dopamine transport
gene, affecting dopamine levels in the brain.

8. TREATMENT
 Early identification and treatment can prevent
many of the problems associated with ADHD along
with behavior therapy.
 Stimulants are the most commonly used drug to
treat ADHD, Although these drugs are called
stimulants, they actually have a calming effect on
people with ADHD. Adderall, Vyvanse and Ritalin
are the most common drugs used. A non stimulant
drug called Strattera may work as well as
stimulants

9. UNTREATED ADHD
 Alcoholism or other substance abuse is more likely
among people with untreated ADHD
 Likely to get in trouble with the law. Again, an
inability to control impulsive and risk taking
behavior is the problem.
INTERESTING FACT
 Study has shown 40% of our current prison
system population has ADHD, likely never
recognized or treated. Imagine all the lives that
could have been changed if someone had only
noted the ADHD and helped them find a way to
manage it.

10. REFERENCES
Kytja K. S. Voeller, MD
J Child Neurol. 2004; 19 (10): 798-814.
http://people.csail.mit.edu/senef
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002518/
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2010/neurotransmitters-involved-
in-adhd/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002518/
http://addstudent.com/2009/04/the-dangers-of-untreated-
adhd/