Adults with ADHD

As I attended the Graduate Honors reception Tuesday, I shared with my table the topic of my blog: ADHD.  One of the guests asked what did the research say about adults with ADHD. As I prepared to answer her question, I realized I had not researched that area.  My focus has been on children with ADHD. But wait a minute, these kids grow up, so what happens to them as adults?  I had no idea, so I researched and the information I found was pretty interesting.

Children that are diagnosed with ADHD/ADD carry some symptoms into adulthood.  But you don’t have to be diagnosed as a child to display symptoms as an adult. Adults with ADHD/ADD have the same difficulties as children:

·        Distractibility

·        “Zoning out” without realizing it

·        Overlooking details

·        Struggling to complete tasks

·        Difficulty paying attention or listening to others

Even though adults with ADHD/ADD struggle with staying focused on a task, they also have a tendency to obsess or become hyperfocused on a things.  This simply means they become so engrossed with what they are doing that they tune out everything else around them.  Hyperfocus can cause you to lose track of time and become neglectful to other things you need to do. I often find myself consumed with tasks and I may lose track of time.  I never thought of it as ADHD. I wonder do I have it.  Hummmmmm…… In a previous blog I mentioned that we all have a “touch” of ADHD.  Certain skills like concentration and focus are things we have to practice or work hard at developing.

Adults with ADHD/ADD sometimes feel out of control. They act before thinking, they are impatient, they rush through tasks, they are unorganized and they interrupt others or talk over them. They also struggle emotionally, some common symptoms include:

·        Stress

·        Short tempered

·        Lack of motivation

·        Insecurity

·        Low self-esteem

·        Mood swings

Many adults suffer for years and never realize they have this problem.  There are tones of treatments available but before you go medicating yourself let’s try gaining control of your life without the use of “the pill.”  There are simple alternative methods to try some include: 

·        Getting plenty of rest-sleeping 7+ hours

·        Eating right and exercising-working off excess energy

·        Time management

·        Teaming with someone to help with organization

·        Technology integration-smart phones (set reminders, make lists, organizational Apps, etc.)

Living with ADHD does not have to be a burden.  There are many adults who function just fine with it.  There is hope regardless of how hopeless and frustrated you may feel.  A good support system, structure and organization skills can make a world of difference for the life of an adult with ADHD/ADD.  I hope this blog brought better insight to the life of an adult with ADHD/ADD.  There are so many myths surrounding this diagnosis.  The bottom line is…………………………….these adults can function in society just like everyone else. They’ll be JUST FINE!

This are great resources for adults and others wanting to learn more about ADHD/ADD http://www.add.org/

http://www.chadd.org/



ADHD and Sensory Integration Disorder

Over the years I have dealt with many kids I felt acted differently.  They did “strange” things and responded oddly to sights and sounds.  After talking with an Occupational Therapist, I learned about kids with sensory issues.  This blog is dedicated to informing others about Sensory Integration Issues.  ADHD and Sensory Integration Disorder are more common than you think.  ADHD is one of the most common childhood diagnoses.  ADHD causes difficulty with attention, focus and hyperactivity.  Sensory Integration Disorder or Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) creates challenges with sensory issues including under and over reaction to sensory stimuli.  Many have never heard of Sensory Integration Disorder.  Simply put, it is the inability of the brain to fully utilize information it gathers through all the senses in an effective or organized way.  When children have trouble processing, it makes it difficult to appropriately react or respond to normal things he or she sees, smells, hears, tastes and feels. 

Children with ADHD and SPD display similar behaviors.  Instead of walking down the hall, they may skip. Excessive fidgeting may be observed while reading.  Off task behaviors or blurting out answers are also associated with ADHD and SPD.  Balance is an issue as well.  Some kids struggle with sitting up straight in a classroom desk. There are many other symptoms you may recognize, some may include:

·        Sensitivity to sound

·        Sensitivity to smell

·        Coordination problems

·        Fascination with lights

·        Sensitivity to lights

·        Indifference to temperature or pain

·        Refusal to wear certain type clothing

·        Refusal to eat certain foods

·        Texture issues

·        High awareness of background noises

·        Strong reaction to stimulation to face, hands and feet

·        Avoids contact with people

When the brain is struggling to process information properly, kids may appear to “misbehave.”  They are not “acting” inappropriately; they are dealing with the feelings of fear and terror.  These everyday issues we deal with are very uncomfortable for kids with SPD.  The softest and smallest sounds to our ears are startling and loud to them.  Background noises, the lights humming, the texture of foods, and the uncomfortable feeling of walking on the floor all are very painful.

Sensory Integration is not a topic that has received a lot of recognition.  Many researchers relate it to only being present in kids with autism or aspergers.  It is now becoming more prevalent in kids with Attention Deficit Disorder. Treatment usually includes occupational therapy, integrating multiple sensory experiences.    Because ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder overlap, parents, medical professionals, and teachers may mistake one condition for the other.  It is important to research and know the difference so you are treating the kids based on their needs.

To find out more about Sensory Integration Issues, please visit the following links.  Happy Learning!

http://www.sinetwork.org/

Star Center

Mmmmmm Social Bookmarking……….that was DELICIOUS!

              

       When I first received the information about Social Bookmarking I immediately thought, “Here we go again.”  I felt like I was being required to do something I probably will never use again.  These feeling came about because I had never heard of Social Bookmarking.  I had no idea what it was and I really wasn’t that interested in finding out.  To my surprise, as I began working on this assignment my interest started to grow.  I joined the Social Bookmarking site called Delicious.  As I explored the site I was amazed at everything I could do. I no longer had to save articles or websites to folders; I could save them to my Social Bookmarking site for easy access.  I also learned the use of Tags.  I have often seen this sign (#) followed by a word but I never knew what it meant. Tags are an easy way to view similar articles with relevant content by attaching key words or tags at the end.      Another great feature of Social Bookmarking sites like Delicious is you can download the tab in your favorites bar or at the top of your computer screen.  Whenever you come to a site or article you would like to save, click the tab and it will send it directly to your Social Bookmarking account.  Isn’t that AWESOME?

               I will continue to use Delicious to bookmark interesting sites I find as I am searching the web.  I feel this valuable resource will come in handy when it is time for me to start the research portion of my graduate studies.  This awesome tool will make things easily accessible and keep them organized in one spot.  Social Bookmarking sites are a great resource for anyone who likes to explore, research, and save things for future reference.  As I was exploring topics in education I found so many websites and links pertaining to special education.  I am going to share two of my favorite websites I found while exploring Delicious:  http://www.do2learn.com/ - This is a web resource for individuals with special needs.  Topics include disabilities, social skills, academics and behavior management.  http://www.edutopia.org/adopt-and-adapt -This website deals with what is going on in education.  Topics are broken down by grade level, blogs, classroom guides, strategies and videos.  I have really enjoyed learning about Social Bookmarking.  I am attaching the link to my Delicious account.  If you are looking for great information on special education, web 2.0, professional development and other educational topics please view http://www.delicious.com/zlwilson4 . ENJOY!

That Causes ADHD!

          Children love anything with screens: TV’s, video games, computers, etc. It is amazing how a hyperactive child calms down when you place him or her in front of a TV or computer.  These type of devices capture and keep our attention. While they hold our attention for hours, they irony is some people lose their ability to stay focus once they are back in the real world.  Technology has some effect on the attention span, but does too much technology cause ADHD? This is a question I continuously look for answers too. While researching this topic, I found some who say yes but many others who say no way.

               Although ADHD is rising, there has been no clear way to link it to ADHD.  Some interesting facts I found were that children between the ages of 8-18 spend almost 7 hours a day consuming some form of media (TV, internet, video games, computer, DVD’s).  Almost 10% of these kids are diagnosed with ADHD. Another research stated that children under the age of 5 who watched 2 hours or more daily are 20% more likely to have attention problems.  Overstimulation from fast-paced cartoons and TV shows may affect brain activity at an early age

               Some researchers dismiss technology being linked to ADHD by stating that genetics plays the ultimate role.  Kids with parents and siblings are more likely to have the disorder. Environmental toxins may also play a role.  There are so many factors popping up that seem to be linked to ADHD.  The toxins in the air, processed foods, sugars, lead exposure, and prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke and alcohol all are considered contributing factors.  WOW!  That’s like everything around us.  That makes me wonder, does everyone have ADHD?  I think we all have symptoms of ADHD.  Concentration and focus skills are things we have to work at, it takes practice.  Just because we are off task or lose focus every once in a while does not mean we have ADHD, it just means we are human. People can’t always blame technology on a child’s lack of focus, it usually is something else.  But the question I still ponder about is how much technology is too much technology?  I would love to read your views on this subject.  What do you think? 

While doing my research I found an interesting website:  Social Discomfort.  There are many blogs and articles relating to this topic on this site.  Two interesting things I read were: Electronics and Our Ability to Focus http://social-discomfort.com/2010/electronics-ability-focus and Addicted to Gadgets http://social-discomfort.com/2010/addicted-gadgets