Catching Symptoms of ADD in Children Early

The Importance of Identifying Symptoms of ADD in Children

Most of us are familiar with the symptoms of ADD in children: inattentiveness, occasional hyperactivity, and a proclivity for losing personal items or struggling with organization. ADD is a prevalent learning disorder, affecting 3% to 5% of the population, and it can dramatically decrease a sufferer's chance at academic and professional success, as well as interfere with the formation and maintenance of personal and romantic relationships. However, there is another, even more pressing reason to quickly identify the symptoms of ADD in children. It is a concept called comorbidity, and it means that with some disorders, there is a high likelihood that other related disorders will also develop.

Symptoms of ADD in children are often comorbid with symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. This isn't surprising when you realize that all three ailments affect the executive function of the brain. ADD, on its own, is a relatively easy disorder to treat and manage throughout one's life. Depression and anxiety, on the other hand, are very frightening illnesses.

Those who suffer from depression and anxiety are more likely to use tobacco products, abuse alcohol and other illegal substances, and struggle throughout their lives with various sleep disorders, which make them more likely to get sick and more prone to accidents, both on the road and on the job. Depression also greatly increases the risk of suicide, and a new study has even found that it increases the risk of heart failure by 40%. Depression and anxiety also greatly impact a person's quality of life. Since they often occur when symptoms of ADD in children go untreated, it's of the utmost importance to start therapy with a counselor, or to begin using natural approaches like diet changes and biofeedback, as soon as possible for children who are diagnosed with the disorder.

Another reason to identify symptoms of ADD in children early is that when a child is treated as soon as possible, they don't struggle with other behavioral and psychological effects that come along with the disorder. There is a large, pervasive social stigma around many of the behaviors of ADD, and an untreated child may develop major issues with their self-esteem and social skills because they believe that they are unable to function like everyone else and that there is something "wrong" with them. One ADD sufferer described her disorder as "being forced to crawl when everyone else is able to walk." A child that doesn't know they have a disorder grows into an adult who thinks they're just not as good as everyone else, and this will severely limit their potential for success, happiness, and positive social adjustment.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR ADD