Attention-Deficit Disorder & ADA

Attention-deficit disorder is a prevalent sickness in children. In some cases, this type of disorder may also continue until adolescence. While it is not a rare case these days, proper knowledge about attention-deficit disorder is necessary. Often, the kind of medical treatment depends on the type of illness. Proper and sufficient knowledge on attention-deficit disorder also helps in identifying certain rights.

Attention-Deficit Disorder

• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or simply attention-deficit disorder, affects adults as well as children. Some of the common symptoms of attention-deficit disorder include short attention span (difficulty in concentrating or focusing attention), lack of behavior control and being extremely hyper. ADHD has three subtypes: predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, predominantly inattentive and combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive. Depending on the subtype, other symptoms may be more persistent.

Symptoms for Each Subtype

• The key behaviors observed in children with attention-deficit disorder include impulsivity, inattention and hyperactivity. Although normal children also have the same behavior or go through episodes of such, in attention-deficit disorder, these behaviors are more extreme and frequent. A person is diagnosed with such if the symptoms have been recurrent for at least six months. Children with an inattention type of attention-deficit disorder often get easily distracted, become bored, have a shallow concentration level and have difficulty in finishing homework.

  Children with hyperactivity, on the other hand, often cannot stay quietly in place, are very talkative and move around a lot. Impulsivity type of attention disorder is characterized by extreme impatience and overly emotional and disruptive behavior.

Causes of Attention-Deficit Disorder

• There is no definite cause of attention-deficit disorder, rather, scientists point out that there are several factors that influence the occurrence of such. For instance, there are several studies pointing out the relevance of genes to the prevalence of the illness. Results of years of studies have established that attention-deficit disorder tends to run in families. This has been a crucial development in the study of the illness because health care experts can initiate precautionary measures before the condition gets worse. Other factors include the environment such as mothers drinking and smoking during pregnancy, and consumption of sugary foods. Research points out that refined sugar makes a kid more hyper. Brain injuries can also affect a person's behavior because of damage of brain functions.

Americans with Disabilities Act

• There are some instances where some individuals diagnosed with disorders are treated unfairly as opposed to normal people. This is the main reason why the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, was passed in 1990. The ADA classifies mental impairment as any psychological or mental disorder such as schizophrenia, major depression, anxiety disorder and illnesses like attention-deficit disorder. Abusive behaviors are not part of the ADA.

What ADA Does

• In its entirety, the ADA forbids any type of discrimination based on the disability. Failure to permit any disabled person to use private and public services and facilities together with government services will be subjected to corresponding punishment. Companies going through fiscal hardships may be exempted from ADA depending on the evaluation.