October is ADHD awareness month. It is the furthest from being racist or discriminatory. It doesn’t care if you are 5 years old or 55 years old. It doesn’t care if you are male or female, Hispanic, Caucasian, Black or Native American. It doesn’t discriminate based on marital status or sexual orientation. You can have it if you are a billionaire or at the poverty level. Take a look around, those that have ADHD do not all look alike.
Diagnosis and treatment have come a long way. In the early 1970’s, I went through a battery of testing. I was called hyper. I was said to have an intellectual and developmental delay despite my IQ at above average levels and my functioning (at certain tasks) at or substantially above grade level. I was ridiculed by peers and teachers. My own father was embarrassed of my issues and performance.
That being said, this is 2013. Whether in person, or online, there are countless resources that you, as a sufferer, or parent of an affected child, can access. This is about the online resources.
The DSM-IV gives these “essential features” of ADHD;
1. Persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequently displayed and is more severe than is typically observed in individuals at comparable level of development.
2. Some hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms must have been present before seven years of age.
3. Some impairment from the symptoms must be present in at least two settings.
4. There must be clear evidence of interference with developmentally appropriate social, academic or occupational functioning.
5. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, or other Psychotic Disorders and is not better accounted for by another mental disorder.
Treatments can include cognitive behavior therapy, classroom based intervention, behavior management, self-management strategies, etc.
Medicinal therapies may also be incorporated into such treatments. The preceding link gives the more common drugs, but fails to list two which I have familiarity with; Vyvance and Focalin. In terms of meds, if you find the manufacturers web site, they (most do) offer free trials of the first prescription as well as discounts for a certain time. Also, check out The website of the United States Health and Human Services as they will get you to your States agency that may or may not offer subsidized insurance programs that assist with co-pays.
Online resources include;
· The Attention Deficit Disorder Association
· The ADHD Coaches Association
· Children and Adults with ADHD
· National Resource Center for ADHD
via Examiner National Edition Gadgets & Tech Channel Articles http://www.examiner.com/article/october-is-adhd-awareness-month?cid=roadrunner