The Effects of Attention Deficit Disorder on Children (Essay Sample)

Child Development: The Effects of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) on Children
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Child Development: The Effects of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) on Children
Characteristics, Signs, and Symptoms of ADD
David (2000) writes about Molly, a five-year-old who is so defiant and active at the same time. Molly’s behaviors usually reduces her mother to tears. She has broken all furniture in the bedroom, all windows in the house, and even threatened the mother with a knife. Another child is Jamie, whose parents have nick-named ‘the boss.’ In particular, Jamie rules his parents’ lives with constant demands and does everything to ensure he is the center of attraction. Primarily, these children suffer from attention deficit disorder (ADD). Some characteristics they have in common are, they are parenting nightmare, parents have referred them to professionals for help, and they constantly challenge efforts by parents to change them. As such, David (2000) concludes that ADD= inattention + impulsiveness.
In essence, ADD arises when the child behaves in a bad way consistently and the behaviors are extreme. The child has very unusual short span of attention, and he or she is easily distracted than other children. Impulsiveness means that the child is constantly a risk-takes, acts without thinking, and never minds the consequences of his or her actions (Peacock, 2002). A third symptom of ADD is hyperactivity. The thing is that the child never stops once he starts to do something. The child is constantly up and down, does several things at the same time, and remains unsettled during meals. This is called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Children with ADD do not share similar symptoms. For instance, Molly cannot concentrate but is calm and less noisy, whereas Jamie plays well with a puzzle but cannot stay calm.
The Causes of ADD and how it spreads
Children with ADD usually wonder why they have the disease or condition. One may ask, "Was I born with the disease?" "Did I learn the behavior from the family?" "Do things at school and home cause someone to be hyperactive?" Research has suggested many causes of ADHD in recent years. Some ideas have proven wrong while others have been correct. Even so, the causes of ADD are profoundly unknown.
Peacock (2002) says that ADHD may be a type of brain disorder, but damage to the brain does not cause it. Scientists have some evidence that ADHD may result from unbalanced functionality of the brain. In fact, brain scans exhibit some differences between children with and those without ADD. In particular, children with ADHD appear to be less active in parts of the brain that control attention, impulse, and hyperactivity (Brown, 2006). The main reason for this inactivity is the lack of a neurotransmitter in the brain that helps brain cells to communicate. In addition, ADD is often visible at birth or develops shortly afterwards, with recent studies showing that nearly fifty percent of ADHD are inherited conditions. The point is that parents pass to their children genetic components that cause abnormalities of the brain.
Another fifty percent of ADD is caused by problems experienced with pregnancy, during delivery, and in early childhood. For instance, medications used during pregnancy and even lack of care affects the development of the child. Ordinarily, parents’ use of alcohol and other drugs also affect a child’s development (Peacock, 2002). Science also proves that parental infections and exposure to poisonous metals, such as led, may cause brain defects in toddlers and infants.
Treatment and Implications on Children
Parents play significant roles in the treatment of ADD as much as professionals do. Many believe that when a child struggles with ADHD, parents should be the first to intervene. Parents can handle a child’s symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hypersensitivity (David, 2000). First, parents can get the child an appropriate therapy, implement good diet, and have a good exercise plan. In particular, it is imperative to change a few aspects of the home environment that suits the child’s develop...