Difference Between ADD and ADHD

What is the real difference between ADD and ADHD? Or is it merely the result of an overactive child?

Every year there are literally millions of children who are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), or with Attention Deficit Hyperactive (AAHD). These particular disorders have very similar symptoms, but the big difference between ADD and ADHD is in the amount of behavioral impairment. Generally, ADHD is noted for it's more acute level of hyperactivity.

A person with ADD will suffer from a lack of focus, have difficulty with organizational skills, and will have trouble concentrating. A person with ADD patient may constantly lose items and try to evade tasks which require focusing.

A normal diagnosis of ADD will usually not include behaviors such as impatience, excessive fidgeting when seated, or burning up 4000 calories a day running around their house, which are typical behaviors that characterize ADHD.

Therefore, the main difference between ADD and ADHD is that, the person who has ADHD has most of the symptoms of ADD, in addition to physical hyperactivity.

It has been stated that there are some reported cases of misdiagnoses of ADD or ADHD, where the child is eventually found to have bipolar disorder, because a few of the characteristics can be similar. It would be a good idea to discuss these possibilities with your physician, to be certain you have covered all the bases. Another fact you should keep in the back of your mind is that long term studies of psychological treatments for both ADD and ADHD have proven ineffective.

If there is a condition in a child where there are difficulties with attention and/or hyperactivity, most physicians will usually advise that the condition should be monitored for at least six months to be certain that it's not a self-resolving issue. Weather it is an ADD or ADHD issue, the six month monitoring guideline still applies.

Allergies and changes in diet are sometimes connected with many cases of ADD and ADHD. Therefore it may be a good idea to test for allergies and try using elimination techniques for any possible dietary problems, particularly during this initial six month monitoring. You might be able to improve your child's ability to focus and even manage it quite well, without the use of medications.

Some doctors advise beginning the day with a high protein breakfast, which has been reported to have a positive effect on some children. Drastically cut down on the intake of sugar, because it will make the ADD and ADHD symptoms worse. Ask your doctor about a test for lactose intolerance, because this can make the management of symptoms more difficult.

Caffeine is known as a natural stimulant, but when people with ADD and ADHD consume it, this can have a calming effect. Merely three quarters of a cup of coffee has roughly the equivalent of stimulant as is found in the average dose of Ritalin, which is a commonly prescribed pharmaceutical.

If you're interested in herbs, try Gingko Biloba berries. They have been used in Traditional Chinese medicine for many thousands of years to help improve focus and concentration problems. If you are interested, speak to a qualified herbalist about this option.

When you examine the difference between ADD and ADHD and the behaviors which are characterize them, you will notice that a kids personality can often influence rude behavior or impatience. Also, Children move through many stages of development at different times and at different degrees in their lives. So when you are looking at the difference between ADD and ADHD, think about your child's behavior and if it's not actually normal. Some children are naturally fidgety and have a more difficult time concentrating than their class mates, but they grow out of it.

article by: Linda Gray