ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is a syndrome characterised by the following symptoms:

• Aggressiveness
  
  
• Inappropriate impulsiveness
  
  
• Inability to focus attention
  
  
• Inability to concentrate on one stimuli for extended periods.
  
  
• Periods of hyperactivity.

The symptoms of ADD interfere with a child�s learning ability and social skills. ADD usually affects children but can also affect adults. ADD is believed to occur as a result of insufficient development of the a region of the brain called the corpus callosum. This component of the brain is responsible for the interhemispheric flow of information (the flow of information betweeen the left and right sides of the brain).

ADD is more prevalent in males than in females and is estimated to affect approximately 3% of the population.

An increased prevalence of ADD has been found in the offspring of women who consume alcohol or who smoke during their pregnancy.

Excessive exposure to lead has been suggested as a cause of the hyperactive symptoms of ADD (children with ADD have been found to have high levels of lead in their hair). Many researchers suggest that food allergies may be an underlying cause of ADD. Other studies have found that children who are prone to inner- or middle-ear infections during their infancy have an increased risk of ADD. One study found tudy found that 89% of children afflicted with ADD have had three or more occurrences of otitis media or otitis interna and 74% have had eleven or more occurrences of these ear infections. Hyperthyroidism is the underlying cause of some cases of ADD.