FREE ESSAY ON ADD

ADD

Attention Deficit Disorder
For centuries children have been grounded, beaten, or even killed for ignoring the rules
or not listening to what they're told. In the past it was thought these "bad" kids were
the products of bad parenting, bad environment, or simply being stubborn, however it is
now known that many of these children may have had Attention Deficit Disorder, or A. D.
D., and could've been helped. A. D. D. is a syndrome that affects millions of children
and adults in the United States and is a very frustrating and confusing syndrome that
often goes undiagnosed.
While there is no clear-cut definition of A. D. D., it's known that it's a genetic
disorder that affects males more often than females, in a 3:1 ratio, and is marked by a
classic triad of symptoms, which are impulsivity, distractibility, and hyperactivity
(Hallowell 6). There are two general types of A. D. D., the stereotypical, high-energy,
hyperactive group, and the less known underactive ones that often daydream and are never
mentally present anywhere. Typically, people with A. D. D. are very likable and are
usually very emphatic, intuitive, and compassionate, however they have very unstable
moods that can range from an extreme high to an extreme low instantly, for no apparent
reason. Usually, they procrastinate often and have trouble finishing projects, while
conversely, they can hyperfocus at times and accomplish tasks more quickly and
efficiently than a normal person could. Often they have short tempers and lack the
impulse to stop themselves from blowing up over minor details (Hallowell 10).
Although A. D. D. has just recently been discovered and there is still relatively little
known about it, it has an interesting history. In 1902, George Frederic Still first
thought that the dilemma of problem children was a biological defect inherited from an
injury at birth and not the result of bad parenting. In the 1930's and '40's stimulant
drugs were first used to successfully treat many behavior problems due partly to Still's
hypothesis. In 1960, Stella Chess further boosted research in the field by writing about
the "hyperactive child syndrome." She stated that the behavior problems weren't a product
of injury at birth, but instead were inherited genetically. Finally, in 1980, the
syndrome was named A. D. D., due in large part to Virginia Douglas' work to find accurate
ways to diagnose it (Hallowell 12).
Formally, A. D. D. comes in two types: A. D. D. with hyperactivity and A. D. D. without
hyperactivity (Hallowell 9). However there are several other subtypes that are used to
diagnose the syndrome and aren't formally recognized. The six most interesting, though
not necessarily most prevalent, are A. D. D. without hyperactivity, A. D. D. with
agitation or mania, A. D. D. with substance abuse, A. D. D. in the creative person,
"high-stim" A. D. D., and pseudo-A. D. D.
The first subtype, A. D. D. without hyperactivity, is the most frequently seen subtype. A
common misconception about A. D. D. is that it's only present in hyperactive people,
while in this subtype the people are underactive, even languid. These people are the
daydreamers that drift off to their own world during class or during conversations. This
type is most common in females and the core symptom is distractibility. This, while being
the most frequent, is also the hardest to diagnose because it seems that the people
simply "need to apply themselves" or "get their act together (Hallowell 153)."
The second type, A. D. D. with mania or agitation, can often be mistaken for
manic-depression due to the high energy levels involved in both and the rapid changes in
mood. However, on can distinguish between the two by their response to medication. People
without a favorable response to lithium, the drug prescribed to manic-depressives, quite
likely have A. D. D. A difficult twist to diagnosis is that the two may coexist. This
occurs when the person cycles between mania and A. D. D. (Hallowell 169).
The third subtype is A. D. D. with substance abuse. Substance abuse is one of A. D. D.'s
hardest "masks" to see through because the abuse itself can produce A. D. D.-like
symptoms. Often when a person with A. D. D. has substance abuse problems they unknowingly
are self-medicating themselves with the drugs. They do this when they choose to use the
drug continually simply because it clears the static from their mind (Hallowell 174). The
three substances used most by A. D. D. sufferers are cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana.
With cocaine, the person feels focused and alert as opposed to the average state of being
high and out of control, because the cocaine acts as a stimulant, much like Ritalin, to
the part of the brain that's dysfunctional in A. D. D. (MacLean 11).
The fourth subtype of A. D. D. is A. D. D. in the creative person. At first, one might
think A. D. D. would hinder creativity but, in fact, many elements of A. D. D. favor
creativity. One of these is the disarrangement of thought the A. D. D. sufferer lives
with and, in order to be creative, one must get comfortable with disarrangement. Also, a
cardinal symptom of A. D. D. is impulsivity, and what is creativity other than an impulse
gone right (Hallowell 177)? A. D. D.'s ability to hyperfocus at times also can contribute
to creativity because a person can fiercely attach to an idea and work it to the end. The
only real disadvantage to creativity in A. D. D. is harnessing these elements to carry
through with the brilliant ideas.
"High-stim" A. D. D. is the fifth and most interesting type of A. D. D. "High-stim" A. D.
D. occurs when a person seeks out highly stimulating, and often dangerous, situations to
avoid boredom. In the person with A. D. D., a high-risk situation provides extra
motivation which has been proven to help the person focus. Often a child with this type
of A. D. D. will pick fights with others to spice up a situation without necessarily
being angry (Hallowell 179).
The sixth and final subtype of A. D. D., pseudo-A. D. D., isn't actually A. D. D. at all.
Instead, it's just the mistaken impression that A. D. D. is just the way life is for
everyone. The reason for this false feeling is that life itself is much like A. D. D.
with its fast pace, high stimulation, violence, anxiety, etc. The way one can tell
between pseudo-A. D. D. and genuine A. D. D. is the duration and intensity of the
symptoms (Hallowell 193).
There are five basic steps to treating A. D. D. The fist is diagnosis which, in itself,
can provide great relief. The second is education because the more one understands A. D.
D., the better one can understand how to solve the problems it creates. The third step is
providing structure, which is important in reducing the inner chaos and providing a sense
of control. The fourth step is having someone to provide encouragement, instructions, and
reminders to the person with A. D. D. The fifth, and final, step is medication, which
helps by correcting a chemical imbalance in the brain. Unfortunately, this doesn't work
for everyone and it should not be used as the only treatment (Hallowell 14). 
Some common medications for A. D. D. are Ritalin, Dexedrine, Cylert, Tofranil, Norpramin,
and Catapres which all have their own, individual positive and negative aspects (MacLean
11). Also, one must beware of controversial treatments that have overstated or
exaggerated claims, that claim to treat many ailments, and/or claim that they have been
unfairly attacked by the "Medical Establishment (CH. A. D. D. 1)."
With increased knowledge and acceptance of A. D. D., society can help itself in at least
two major ways. One, it could lessen the prison population because a large number of
inmates have undiagnosed A. D. D. and, given proper treatment can overcome their problems
to live a productivelife. Second it could tap into a large, unused base of intelligent
people with undiagnosed A. D. D. to help further mankind. Overall, A. D. D. isn't
something to be overlooked and pushed aside due to the many benefits understanding it
would give.