Cause and Effect of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder among

Children

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to express our gratitude to this following people who

make our research paper possible:

The Almighty Lord, for He is the source of strength, courage, good

health, knowledge and wisdom, joy and peace; for His bountiful and

spiritual presence in all our undertakings in life; we, the researchers,

cannot thank Him enough-no words can express how thankful we are.

To our dear parents, for the everlasting and unconditional love,

never fading patience, understanding, care and countless prayers, for

wholeheartedly helping out in every step of the way; for giving all their

time and sacrifices in their work in favor for the completion of our

study; for being the most supportive parents we could ever have.

To Ms. Girlie R. Ricanor our English 2 teacher, who gave us this

research paper as our course requirement to enhance our skills in

writing and thinking and for her encouragement and advises to us for

the betterment of our study.

To our friends, for the endless support, fun and relaxation to make

our life not too much giving pressure, love, trust and encouragement.

To our brothers and sisters for being loving and supportive in all

of our endeavors.

And to the people whom the researchers failed to mention who

have been in one way or another helped in the realization of the study.

The Researchers

DEDICATION

The researchers would like to dedicate this research paper to the

following people:

The Almighty Lord, for He is the source of strength, courage, good

health, knowledge and wisdom, joy and peace; for His bountiful and

spiritual presence in all our undertakings in life; we, the researchers,

cannot thank Him enough-no words can express how thankful we are.

To our family especially to our parents, for emotionally and

financially supported us all throughout.

To our BSN I-1, whom we share laughter and tears as we go through

the entire course of making this research paper.

To our friends, for the endless support, fun and relaxation to lessen

the pressure in making this research paper and also for the love, trust

and encouragement they gave.

To our brothers and sisters for being loving and supportive in all of

our endeavors.

The Researchers,

Eunice Ann Doctolero

Janica Joy Campilla

Kevin Corpuz

Rochelle Collo

Rodolfo Contaoi

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Imagine living in a world where sights, sounds, images and

thoughts are constantly changing and shifting. Unable to focus on

whatever task is at hand; your mind wanders from one activity or

thought to the next. Sometimes you become so lost among all the

thoughts and images that you don't even notice when someone is

speaking to you. This is what it is like for many people who have

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. Once called

hyperkinesis or minimal brain dysfunction. It is a neurological condition

characterized by inattention, restlessness and impulsivity and

commonly diagnosed in early childhood.

Symptoms of ADHD can present themselves as early as age two or

three, but most commonly shows up and is diagnosed around

adolescence. Often the hyperactivity and other more severe symptoms

of ADHD will lessen with age, but the more subtle ones such as

inattention to detail may well stay with the patient until adulthood and

throughout the patient’s life. A child with ADHD may be very smart, but

still receive poor grades due to their inability to focus on their

work.Common symptoms of ADHD in children include being overly

active, constantly moving, running, climbing, squirming and. It is

thought to be hereditary as statistics show that children of people with

ADHD are much more likely to have it.Some believe that it is caused by

an imbalance in the brain’s neurotransmitters, which are chemicals

that send messages from one’s brain to the rest of one’s body (Newton

et al. 97-98)

It affects 3 to 5 percent of all children, and it is likely to occur two to

three times more in boys than in girls. “In a classroom of 25 to 30

children, it is likely that at least one of them will have ADHD" (Ramer

4). Studies have already been done in the area of ADHD, many school

teachers, say these numbers are conservative estimates.

Statement of the problem:

This research study aimed to have a better understanding of

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among children and

what will be the possible cause, effects and treatments of this disorder.

Specifically, the study sought to answer the following questions:

1.What is ADHD?

2.What are the factors that causes ADHD to children?

3. What are the possible effects of ADHD to the children and their

parents?

4. What are the signs and symptoms of ADHD?

5. How could parents prevents their children from acquiring ADHD?

6. What is the treatment of ADHD?

Importance of the Study

The issue of ADHD is one that has been misunderstood for many

years. There are individuals that study it and discuss how significant it

is, and there are others that see it as some kind of made-up problem

that is not really important to focus on. In recent years it has generally

accepted that ADHD does exist and that study of it is important.

To alleviate the misconceptions or misunderstandings about ADHD

the researchers thought it is superlative to present a research paper

about this disorder. This study incorporates the factors that can

contribute to this condition and its effect to the physical, mental, social

and emotional aspect of the children.

Hopefully this research paper will become an answer to the

misapprehension about ADHD and it help those people who are

experiencing this condition and to their parents to have a better

apprehension about ADHD , it’s possible cause and effects.

The discussions in this paper, specifically to the signs and

symptoms of ADHD will help all parents to detect early if their children

are currently experiencing this condition.

Scope and Limitation

This study covers the cause and effects of ADHD. It likewise looked

into the different ways to treat ADHD on children and how to detect it

early using the signs and symptoms of this disorder. To make this

paper more meaningful and useful, a discussion of prevention of ADHD

was also included. However, every study has its own limitations

because of that the researcher did not attempt to discuss about the

ADHD in adults since the topic were only focused on the ADHD in

children. Managing children with ADHD was not also discussed by the

researchers since treatments of it was provided already in this

research paper.

Definition of Terms

CHAPTER 2

The most common behavioral disorder of childhood is that of

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) which is “marked by a

constellation of symptoms.” (Niehart 2003)

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic,

debilitating disorder which may impact upon many aspects of an

individual’s life, including academic difficulties, social skills problems,

and strained parent-child relationships. It is a psychological disorder

that is marked by having one or more of the key symptoms: extreme

inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity (Myers 2009). In truth these

disorders have many more symptoms such as; missing details,

forgetting things, misplacing things, not seeming to be listening when

spoken to, daydreaming, and much more ( National Institutes of Health

2010). For those who suffer from this disorder, it is an everyday

struggle to overcome these obstacles.

These and many other effects of ADHD are discuss detailedly

discussed in the paper.It also explore the cause, treatment,

preventions and signs and symptoms of ADHD. The information’s

provided will answer the questions raised earlier.

Cause of ADH

Genetic factors.There is strong indicators that ADHD or the

tendency towards the disorder may be hereditary. For instance, most

children with ADHD appear to have at least one blood relative with an

attention disorder. At least one in three fathers who had ADHD

symptoms in their youth has a child with ADHD. In addition, studies in

identical twins found that there is a 91% chance that if one of the twins

suffers from ADHD, the other twin will also have the condition.

Research is still ongoing, but genetic factors seem to contribute to

ADHD susceptibility. No single gene with major contributions to ADHD

has been identified up to now.

Head injury.For a long time, many scientists believed that ADHD

was the result of undetectable brain damage or minor head trauma

following a serious fall, accident or difficulties during birth. As a result,

ADHD used to be called “minimal brain damage” (or “minimal brain

dysfunction”).

Brain abnormalities. On average children with ADHD it might have

up to 5 percent smaller brain volumes than children without ADHD.

Research also showed differences in some of the brain’s chemical

substances that allow brain cells to communicate with one another,

also called neurotransmitters. For instance, some neurotransmitters

may show different activity patterns in people with ADHD compared to

unaffected individuals.

Finally, studies using techniques to “image” the brain, such as

the positron emission tomography (PET) scan, revealed less activity in

the areas of the brain that control activity and attention in some

persons with ADHD. It is important to emphasize that brain imaging

techniques are currently not used to diagnose ADHD. Indeed, while the

laboratory observations are consistent, they are not sufficiently

sensitive to make an ADHD diagnosis.

Environmental factor.Pregnant women who smoke or use alcohol or

drugs during pregnancy are at increased risk of having a child with

ADHD. Pregnant women who are exposed to environmental poisons,

such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs - industrial chemicals that

were widely used in the past), also may be more likely to have a child

with symptoms of ADHD.

Preschool children exposed to certain environmental toxins,

particularly lead and PCBs are at increased risk of developmental and

behavioral problems, many of which are similar to those found in

children diagnosed with ADHD. Exposure to lead, which is found mainly

in paint and pipes in older buildings, has been linked to disruptive and

even violent behavior and to a short attention span. Exposure to PCBs

in infancy may also increase a child's risk of developing ADHD.

Diet.Many people are convinced that ADHD is caused by certain

types of nutrition and that especially refined sugar and food additives

can contribute to hyperactivity and attention problems. The theory that

nutrition and especially junk food, sugar and additives play a role

remains the topic of a much heated debate. Studies reveal that many

hyperactive children do not appear to benefit from restricted diets and

that these diets only seemed to help about 5% of children with ADHD

and that most of these children were either very young, or suffered

from food allergies. Although a healthy diet will contribute to the

wellbeing of any child, including a child with ADHD, there appears to

be no conclusive evidence that certain diets or food play a part in the

condition.

Sleep-breathing problems.Researchers has found that children who

snore are nearly twice as much at risk of being inattentive and

hyperactive than those who don't. Furthermore, it was shown that

snoring early in life predicted new or worsened behavior problems four

years later. Similar behavior was seen among children who had other

symptoms of sleep disturbance, such as sleep apnea (brief breathing

lapses in sleep that disrupt sleep and can reduce blood oxygen levels),

or daytime sleepiness. The researchers believe that ADHD may result

from the sleepiness caused by snoring. This relationship rests on the

concept that snoring, sleep apnea, and other breathing problems

during sleep diminish the quality of sleep, repeatedly reduce oxygen

levels, and affect daytime behavior. This might result in an overtly

tired, irritable, hyperactive child with limited attention and focus on

different tasks. The researchers concluded that their findings

strengthen the hypothesis that untreated sleep-breathing problems in

childhood can contribute to the development of hyperactivity. These

studies highlight the importance of diagnosing sleeping problems in

children, as they can have a major impact on health, behavior, and

quality of life.

Effects of ADHD to children

That a child suffering from ADHD may experience inattention.

Inattention becomes more prominent when the child is involved in

tasks

that need vigilance, rapid reaction time, systemic and sustained

listening, visual and perceptual search. These children can face

difficulty

in passive learning situations and may need extra attention in the

classroom or special educational services.

Impulsivity.Children with ADHD may experience impulsivity symptoms,

such as calling out answers in class without thinking, being unable to

wait their turn and interrupting frequently. These impulsive actions

may cause a child to lag behind others in the class and and may

present problems with making friends.

Hyperactivity.Symptoms of hyperactivity can be experienced by

children with ADHD. Hyperactivity is characterized by excessive

restlessness and movement. The various symptoms associated with

hyperactivity include running or climbing in inappropriate situations,

being unable to play quietly and talking excessively. A hyperactive

child may find school work more difficult, may be teased by others and

may be frequently punished for disruptive behaviors. These children

often need proper treatment, behavior modifications and support.

Disruptive Behavior.Disruptive behavior is a more serious condition

that affects not only the child but also the family members and persons

living near the child. A child with ADHD may have symptoms of

antisocial behavior, such as stealing, fighting, and harming people or

destroying property. Everyday routines of such children are

complicated by disorderly and unfocused behavior. Treatment consists

of treatment with medications and behavioral therapy.

Learning Disabilities

Merck.com reports that about 20 to 60 percent of children with ADHD

may have learning disabilities and 80 percent may experience

academic difficulties. Children with ADHD may make careless mistakes

during school work and be inattentive in class. They may not follow

repeated requests and may shift from one incomplete work to another.

Because we expect very young children to be easily distractible and

hyperactive, it’s the impulsive behaviors—the dangerous climb, the

blurted insult—that often stand out in preschoolers with ADD/ADHD.

By age four or five, though, most children have learned how to pay

attention to others, to sit quietly when instructed to, and not to say

everything that pops into their heads. So by the time children reach

school age, those with ADD/ADHD stand out in all three behaviors:

inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Inattention

According to researchers at the Mayo Clinic, all three signs of ADHD

can appear when your child is an infant. Most of the time, symptoms

present themselves prior to age 7.

Signs of inattention include carelessness in school work and other

activities, difficulty sustaining attention during play and other tasks,

trouble with follow-through on directions, problems organizing tasks or

activities and forgetfulness. Children with ADHD also have trouble

listening, even when you speak directly to them. They might avoid or

dislike tasks that require sustained mental concentration.

Hyperactivity

Signs of hyperactivity in children with ADHD include trouble sitting still

during dinner, school and story time, non-stop talking, erratic

movements and touching or playing with everything in sight, according

to NIMH. Mayo Clinic experts contend that boys are more likely to

exhibit hyperactive behavior, while girls tend to be more inattentive.

When a boy exhibits fidgety behavior, it is often in response to his

inability to concentrate. When girls cannot focus, they often daydream.

Impulsivity

The overly impulsive child makes inappropriate comments, cannot

control his emotions and acts without considering consequences.

Impulsivity symptoms also include impatience. For instance, a child

with ADHD might have trouble waiting for his turn while playing a

game. Additionally, children exhibiting impulsivity might frequently

interrupt the conversations and activities of others. These behaviors

tend to be more conspicuous in boys than in girls. Compliance to

teachers and other adults is often lower among boys with ADHD.

If you or your child are struggling with ADHD there are many safe and

effective treatments that can drastically improve its symptoms. ADHD

treatment can boost school and job performance, improve

organizational skills, and foster better relationships.

Furthermore, treatment doesn’t necessarily mean pills or doctors’

offices. Treatment for ADHD is any action you take to manage the

symptoms. And while you may want to seek professional help along

the way, ultimately, you are the one in charge of treating ADHD,

whether you are the parent or the patient. You don’t have to wait for a

diagnosis or rely on professionals. You can start treating your child’s

symptoms with your own way.

Understanding ADD / ADHD treatment options

Treatment for attention deficit disorder isn’t just about seeing doctors

or taking medication. The term treatment actually refers to behavior,

management, or action—not just to medical approaches. ADHD

treatment can mean changing habits, altering frame of mind, talking

to others, and learning strategies to help your child. And you don’t

have to pick just one treatment. In fact, the best way to treat ADHD is

to combine several different methods to get the best possible result.

You have the power to figure out what works for your child and

implement the appropriate treatments.

Lifestyle

Evidence shows that eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise,

and making other smart daily choices can help child manage the

symptoms of ADHD.

Regular exercise

Exercising is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce the

symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Physical activity immediately boosts the

brain’s dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels—all of which

affect focus and attention. In this way, exercise and medications for

ADHD such as Ritalin and Adderall work similarly. But unlike

ADD/ADHD medication, exercise doesn’t require a prescription and its

side effect free.

In addition to improving concentration and decreasing hyperactivity

and impulsivity, regular exercise can also elevate mood, combat

stress, improve memory, increase motivation, keep depression and

anxiety at bay, help sleep better, and prime brain for learning.

Enough Sleep

Many children with ADHD have sleep difficulties. The most common

problems include:

Trouble getting to sleep at night, often because racing thoughts are

keeping up.

Unrefreshing, restless sleep. child toss and turn throughout the night

and wake up feeling tired.

Difficulty waking up in the morning. Waking up is a daily struggle. Your

child may sleep through multiple alarms and feel groggy and irritable

for hours after getting up.

Regular quality sleep can lead to vast improvement in the symptoms of

ADD/ADHD. Simple changes to daytime habits go a long way toward

resting well at night.

Eating right

All children need a healthy diet to grow and develop properly. Special

diets have been used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,

commonly known as ADHD, but many are still being researched.

Currently there is no specific diet for children with ADHD, but there is

anecdotal evidence that limiting certain foods can help prevent

symptoms of ADHD and manage the disorder.

Fresh Foods

The healthiest diet for a child with ADHD is rich in nutrient-dense foods

like fruits, vegetables, grains and healthy fats, says the Mayo Clinic.

Lean proteins and low-fat dairy products also provide vitamins,

minerals and nutrients that a child needs to be healthy and develop

physically and cognitively. The Mayo Clinic recommends limiting

sugary and processed foods; these tend to be high in calories and fat

but offer few essential nutrients.

Non-Salicylate Foods

Salicylate is a naturally occurring chemical in fruits and vegetables.

Foods that contain salicylates are eliminated on the Feingold diet, the

best-known diet used to treat ADHD. According to the Center for

Science in the Public Interest, or CSPI, non-salicylate fruits and

vegetables are bananas, melons, grapefruits, kiwis, lemons, mangos,

papayas, pears, pineapples, beans, beets, bean sprouts, broccoli,

cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, kale, lettuce, lentils, mushrooms,

onions, peas, potatoes, spinach, squash, corn, sweet potatoes and

zucchini. Foods high in salicylates should be avoided and include

apples, apricots, tomatoes, berries, cherries, cucumbers, grapes,

nectarines, oranges, peaches, peppers, plums and tangerines.

Additive-Free Foods

Food additives refer to artificial colorings, preservatives and flavorings.

According to the Mayo Clinic, food additives do not cause ADHD, but

may worsen hyperactivity. Food additives are generally used in

processed and commercially prepared foods. Additive-free foods

include fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, fish, eggs and dairy

products. The best way to tell if a food contains additives is to read

food labels and ingredient lists.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, omega-3 fatty

acids, an essential fatty acid, support normal brain function and may

benefit children with ADHD. Omega-3 fatty acids are in fish and fish oil,

walnuts, flaxseed, soybean and canola oil, Brussels sprouts, kale and

spinach.

therapy

Treatment for ADHD can also mean seeking outside help. Professionals

trained in ADHD can help your child learn new skills to cope with

symptoms and change habits that are causing problems.

Some therapies focus on managing stress and anger or controlling

impulsive behaviors, while others teach you how to handle time and

money better and improve your organizational skills.

Medication

Prescription drugs for ADHD can be helpful in treatment, but it’s

important to understand that medication is a tool, not a cure.

Medication for ADHD doesn’t work for everyone, and even when it does

work, it won’t solve all problems or completely eliminate symptoms. In

fact, while medication for ADD/ADHD often improves attention and

concentration, it typically does very little to help symptoms of

disorganization, poor time management, forgetfulness, and

procrastination.

Everyone responds differently to ADHD medication. Some people

experience dramatic improvement while others experience little to no

relief. The side effects also differ from person to person and, for some,

they far outweigh the benefits. Because everyone responds differently,

finding the right medication and dose takes time.

Medication for ADD/ADHD is more effective when combined with other

treatments. You will get much more out of your medication if you also

take advantage of other treatments that address emotional and

behavioral issues and teach you new coping skills.

ADD/ADHD medication should always be closely monitored. Medication

treatment for ADD/ADHD involves more than just taking a pill and

forgetting about it. You and your doctor will need to monitor side

effects, keep tabs on how you’re feeling, and adjust the dosage

accordingly. When medication for ADD/ADHD is not carefully

monitored, it is less effective and more risky.

supporting child’s treatment

Your child’s number one resource for treating his or her attention

deficit disorder is you—the parent or caretaker. You set the stage for

your child’s emotional and physical health. You have control over many

of the factors that can positively influence the symptoms of ADHD and

allow child to thrive.

Treatment for childhood ADD / ADHD at home

Children withADHD are more likely to succeed in completing tasks

when the tasks occur in predictable patterns and in predictable places,

so that they know what to expect and what they are supposed to do.

Follow a routine. It is important to set a time and a place for

everything to help a child with ADHD understand and meet

expectations. Establish simple and predictable rituals for meals,

homework, play, and bed.

Use clocks and timers. Consider placing clocks throughout the

house, with a big one in your child’s bedroom. Allow plenty of time for

what your child needs to do, such as homework or getting ready in the

morning.

Simplify your child’s schedule. Avoiding idle time is a good idea,

but a child with ADHD may become even more distracted and “wound

up” if there are too many after-school activities.

Create a quiet place. Make sure your child has a quiet, private space

of his or her own. A porch or bedroom can work well too—as long as

it’s not the same place as the child goes for a time-out.

Set an example for good organization. Set up your home in an

organized way. Make sure your child knows that everything has its

place. Role model neatness and organization as much as possible.

The importance of praise

As you establish a consistent structure and routine, keep in mind

that children with ADHD often receive criticism. Be on the lookout for

good behavior—and praise it. Praise is especially important for children

who have ADHD because they typically get so little of it. A smile,

positive comment, or other reward from you can improve your child’s

attention, concentration, and impulse control. Do your best to focus on

giving positive praise for appropriate behavior and task completion,

while giving as few negative responses as possible to inappropriate

behavior or poor task performance. Reward your child for small

achievements—these will lead to bigger successes down the road.

Treating ADHD naturally has helped a number of parents when

medications have failed to bring results, but prevention is still better

than cure. If your family has a history of ADHD, autism, and other

disorders, there are certain things you can do to protect your child

from the environmental triggers of these conditions.

Breastfeed.Breastfeeding your baby is not only more economical

than buying formula milk; it's healthier for the baby as well. A

breastfed baby has a lower chance of developing food allergies and

intolerance to casein, a protein found in milk known to trigger ADHD-

like symptoms. The nutrients found in breast milk also aid in the baby's

neurological development - assuming the mother is not suffering from

any nutritional deficits. If you are breastfeeding your child, keep taking

a daily multivitamin and omega-3 fish oil supplements so you and your

baby stay well-nourished.

Eat organic as much as possible.No matter how many times you

wash traditionally farmed vegetables with water, they will still contain

traces of pesticides. Most pesticides work by damaging the nervous

system of insects, but the human brain contains the same

neurotransmitters insects have. Although adults have developed a

certain resistance to these chemicals, young children and babies are

very vulnerable to their effects. This is why you should serve

organically farmed produce to your family as much as possible, or

restrict your diet to organic foods if you are pregnant.

For the same reason, avoid using pesticides in the home as well.

It's easy for children to be contaminated by household pesticides

because of the amount of time they spend playing on the floor.

Be careful about vaccines.Doctors and school officials give the

impression that vaccinating children is a must. Although children are

vulnerable to a number of diseases, it's startling to discover that many

of these vaccines contain neurotoxins like mercury, which contribute to

ADHD and autism. Educate yourself about the effects of infectious

childhood diseases and weigh the pros and cons before deciding to

have your child vaccinated.

Avoid food with artificial additives.It's a little-known fact that

artificial coloring, flavoring, and preservatives trigger the symptoms of

ADHD. Unfortunately, many foods marketed to children contain a lot of

these chemicals. Avoid buying foods with artificial additives, and

restrict candy and junk cereals to weekends or special occasions.

Encourage physical activity.Video games and TV shows can be

hypnotizing, but they also encourage kids to enjoy a sedentary

lifestyle. Physical activity is necessary to a child's neurological

development, so make sure your child spends a lot of time playing

outdoors. Set a limit to the number of hours he or she can watch TV.

CHAPTER 3

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Conclusions:

Based on the discussions presented in this research paper, the

following conclusions were arrived at.

1.ADHD is a psychological disorder that can affect not only the mind of

the children but also its emotion, behavior, social interaction.

2. The treatment of ADHD is not only by medications or seeing doctors it

can also be by proper management and action of the parents towards their

children who are experiencing this disorder.

3.There are certain things you can do to protect your child from the environmental

triggers of ADHD.

4. ADHD is one of the major and common disorder of childhood.

5. There are many contributory factors that causes ADHD not only by genetics but also

on the environment,diet,brain injuries and trauma.

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children/#ixzz1n6ClpMoy

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5924971