ADHD in Children

Paper Summary:

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders among children, although it is sometimes diagnosed in adults if there is an indication that the symptoms were present in childhood. This paper looks at how pediatricians have attempted to define the disorder, how it is diagnosed and also looks at the range of drugs that can be prescribed to treat it. In particular, it looks at the hypothesis that the symptoms of ADHD are not solid enough to just prescribe a drug to treat children who may or may not have a serious mental or social disorder and reviews both sides of this argument presenting expert opinions to support the thesis.

From the Paper:

"The proximate cause of ADHD is not conclusively known, although research is ongoing in many areas. Most scientific evidence suggests that, in many cases, the disorder is genetically transmitted and is caused by an imbalance or deficiency in particular chemicals that regulate the efficiency with which the brain controls behavior. Brain scan technology has indicated differences in the symmetry, metabolism, chemistry, and size of the brain in those who have ADHD, although there is as yet no clear determination of the source of these differences. A 1990 study from the National Institute of Mental Health connected ADHD with a series of metabolic abnormalities in the brain, providing evidence that ADHD is a neurological disorder. "There appears to be a link between a person's ability to pay continued attention and the use of glucose--the body's major fuel--in the brain."

More papers on ADHD in Children:

• Essay # 85194 : "The Effects of ADHD on Children"
• Cause and Effect Essay # 8935 : "Causes of Behavioral Disorders in Children"
• Research Paper # 119294 : "ADHD and Depression in Children"

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