ADD Versus ADHD, What Is The Difference, And How It Applies To You And Your Child

People often ask what are the differences between ADD versus ADHD. ADD stands for Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD stands for Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder. As you can see from the letter H, the core difference between ADD versus ADHD is the hyperactivity and essentially they are the same neurological condition.

They have many of the same symptoms such as impulsiveness and inattention and are both usually referred to as ADD. Some symptoms such as remaining seated for long periods of time and excessive talking are less evident in ADD. Below are the different stages in a person’s life and the effects hyperactivity may have throughout.

As babies

Hyperactivity may be evident even before the baby is born by violent kicks inside a mother’s womb. Other behaviors and symptoms such as colic and constant moving around in their cots may indicate that a baby is ADHD.

Toddlers to preschoolers

As they become more able to move around the difference between ADD versus ADHD can be better seen, as smaller children with hyperactivity will seem to be busy, unable to sit still long enough for the parent to rest. They will often be climbing, jumping or running wherever they go. An ADD child is usually not as active and may develop certain focused interests with the exclusion of all other activities.

School age

As they get older, the hyperactive child will begin to learn coping mechanisms, but will still find it difficult to sit still and listen in class. They will often be in trouble for lack of concentration, constant talking, and the inability to sit on their chair without moving or wriggling.

Adolescents

When the ADHD child reaches this stage, they generally find that sports or other outdoor activities alleviate many of the urges that they feel as a result of their condition. Others who do not participate in physical activities find it a little more difficult and many times will have fewer friends.

Adults

An Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can become a bigger problem if not dealt with properly early on in life with methods that work for those who have this condition. The hyperactive adult may have an unyielding energy but is often unable to put it to effective use through focus. If not properly managed they may find themselves unproductively jumping around, experiencing little success in their relationships, home life, work and goals.

For a large percentage group they will never ‘outgrow’ their ADD or ADHD and so the ability to be able to deal with the symptoms is imperative. This can be achieved by learning and applying life skills on a continuous basis or with the aid of medication.

About The Author

Rolf Joss is an Author on both Attention Deficit Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders. As an Author on these subjects, he is at the forefront to provide solutions to those with ADD and ADHD.

For more articles (or training) on ADD versus ADHD or to get your FREE ADD/ADHD Mini Guide, go to http://www.whatisadd-adhd.com.

Reasons Why Energy Drinks Are Bad For You

While they sit innocently next to water and soda pop on your grocers shelves, energy drinks are not safe for everyone. These beverages can make many medical conditions worse. They can even pose a risk for healthy people. The problems range from life threatening to merely annoying. Here are a few examples:

Depression: If you suffer from anxiety, depression or any mood related disorder, stay away from these products. Not only can they make the condition worse, they interact with the medications intended to relieve them. This is especially true of major clinical depression and bipolar disorder.

Diabetes: These beverages provide a double whammy for diabetics. First, the sugar content is high in most brands, though there is one brand that is sugar free. However, the caffeine content increases the effects of the sugar, causing extremes in blood sugar levels.

Heart Disease: While it may not be a primary cause, beverages with caffeine can make heart problems worse. Angina, rapid or irregular heartbeat and other difficulties can occur after consuming products with that in it.

Kidney Disease: Your kidneys are your bodys filtration system. Blood passes through them and impurities are filtered out. High amounts of sugar must be filtered to keep your levels normal. Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine production. Both of these are very hard on healthy kidneys and therefore can make those suffering from problems worse.

Nutrition: Tannic acids such as those found in energy drinks block up to sixty percent of the absorption of vitamins and minerals, both from tablets and from food. That means the vitamins in them are probably not doing as much for you as taking the same amount with water. It also means that the tablets you swallow are going to flush right through your system and out the other end, unused.

Sleep: Unless you are ADHD, sleep will be difficult for several hours after using any of these products. If youre trying to sleep or have noticed difficulties, cut the energy drinks. If youre using them to avoid sleep for whatever reason, keep in mind that you need a minimum of seven hours a night to remain healthy. A lot of bad things can happen if you skimp in this department.

If you dont have the energy to do things without these beverages, talk to your doctor. Part of it may be addiction; your body has learned to depend on them. However, lack of energy is a symptom of many medical conditions. Listen to your body.

One last word of advice. If you have been consuming large amounts of these products, stopping abruptly will lead to one of the worst headaches you can imagine. Its best to taper off slowly to avoid this problem.

See my website: http://www.alternative-herbal-remedies.com

4 ADHD Supplement Focus Benefits Thatll Change Your Childs Life

Lets face it, being a child with ADD or ADHD can be tough. These behavioral conditions can lead to problems at home and in school, and as a parent, its your job to get your child the help he or she needs to overcome these hardships so they can live a happy and exciting life. One method of treatment that has seemed to be forgotten by traditional doctors now a days is supplementation through all-natural and homeopathic remedies. Here are four ADHD supplement focus benefits that can help change your childs life for the better.

#1. Your child will be able to concentrate better in school, and therefore learn at a much faster rate with the rest of his/her classmates.

Children with ADD/ADHD have trouble with sitting still, quietly listening to teachers, following instructions, and concentrating. Obviously, these things get in the way of learning.

By dealing with these issues that a child is having in school without negatively altering their behavior (which is a common effect of prescribed stimulant medications), they can start doing better in school while still being enthusiastic and excited about it!

#2. As your child completes assignments quickly and more easily, their confidence will jump THROUGH THE ROOF and theyll be amazed at how smart they are.

When a child that is struggling with something learns to overcome the hardships they are facing, they get very excited about it! In fact, this excitement can even turn into motivation.

Children with ADD/ADHD are often viewed as spacey and unmotivated since they cannot seem to stay focused and attentive in school. But by getting help with managing the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, a child can certainly find this motivation that they use to lack in school, and their confidence in themselves will reflect on their personality.

#3. It will become much easier for your child to get along with his or her peers when theyre learning and participating with the rest of the class and not being a disturbance.

Its unfortunate, but children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are often viewed as a “troublemaker” in school. Due to the hyperactivity and lack of control over ones emotions that ADHD causes, they are often viewed by other children as “different” and “strange”.

I, myself, can relate to this. Back when I was in grammar school, there was a boy in my class that had ADHD, and he always got picked on because he struggled in class. His temper would get the best of him at times, causing him to get angry and be a disturbance in school.

As a child, I didnt know any better that he had a medical condition that prevented him from learning and interacting with other children like I could. Now looking back, I wish I understood more what was going on in his head so we could have been better friends.

#4. Doing homework each night will not be a huge project anymore with the effects of ADHD being managed naturally.

Once a child comes home from school and needs to sit down and do their homework, parents then realize the difficulty that comes with keeping a child with ADD/ADHD focused and on task. Getting them to actually finish their homework in a reasonable amount of time can be tough.

If your child is on some sort of stimulant drug, its effects usually wear off by the time they get home from school. Having them take another dosage when they get home just doesnt make sense since they have to go to bed a few hours after they finish their homework, right?

This is another reason why I believe that a more natural and homeopathic method of treatment can benefit your childs efforts and involvement in school and education as a whole.

So why is taking ADHD supplements such a good treatment option for children?

Well simply put, they dont negatively alter your childs personality! Unlike stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall, all-natural homeopathic remedies for ADHD stimulate the bodys own healing powers to fight back against specific symptoms that a person is exhibiting.

Now by no means am I saying that prescription ADHD medications are not safe or effective. They very well could improve your childs condition. However, we have to remember that our children are “little adults” and much more easily affected by stong stimulant prescription drugs.

I simply believe that this prescribed path of treatment should be more of a last resort option instead of it being the “first line of defense” against ADHD.

I invite you to learn more about the benefits of natural ADHD supplements for children, the remedies we personally recommend, and other helpful tips for improving your childs life by visiting my website listed below.

Jason Kaczynski runs a series of health & wellness websites centered around all-natural health. His latest addition is http://www.natural-adhd-supplements.com where he looks to properly educate parents about the benefits of using all-natural remedies to treat ADD/ADHD as oppose to prescription stimulants.