ADHD BASICS
1: What is it? –
Neuro-biological Disorder
Serious and potentially disabling
2: Core Symptoms -
Involuntary Mental Distractibility
Involuntary Physical Restlessness
Involuntary Impulse Disinhibition
Distorted sense of time
Cognitive Processing Delays
Mood Modulation Problems
Sleep Cycle Problems
Bed Wetting, Bowel Control Problems
Various Sensory Anomalies (Tactile, Proprioceptive, Smell/Taste)
Impaired Auditory Processing (accuracy & speed)
Executive Functioning Deficits – Working Memory
Organization
Shifting
Self-Monitoring
4. Causes -
Hereditary
Brain Neurotransmitter Dysregulation – Dopamine, Norepinepherine
Brain Size Anomalies – smaller Right Frontal Cortex, Caudate, Globus
Pallidus, Corpus Callosum, Hemispheric Asymetry
5. History -
First Clinically Identified – 1902 (in Great Britain)
Stimulant Medications first used - 1940
PET & fMRI Scans prove brain chemistry problem – 1990 - present
6. Symptoms Fluctuate -
Increase - In dull, boring, uninteresting, difficult, confusing situations
Decrease – In fun, exciting, interesting, easy situations
7. Medication Myths -
They’re Dangerous
They’re Addicting
Alternatives Are Better
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