Statistics show that as many as 4.4% of adults suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder. Statistics show that people with this disorder are less likely to achieve academically and can have difficulty holding down long-term, full-time employment.
ADD is actually caused by problems with the brains dopamine neurotransmitter systems. The theory that this condition can be caused by poor diet has been disproven. And ADD is never caused by bad parenting. Genetics are the biggest cause with most cases of ADD inherited from parents. A child is 30% more likely to exhibit the symptoms of ADD if a parent or close family member has the condition.
Its during childhood that the symptoms of ADD can become readily apparent. Children are known to develop through three distinct stages. The first stage occurs as babies when they start to focus on various objects around them. The object will hold their attention for a period of time.
The next stage will be familiar to parents of toddlers as this is when their attention is continuously shifting from one thing to another. A child that continues to exhibit this type of behavior may be diagnosed as having ADD.
It’s the during the third stage that children develop the ability to focus for longer periods of time and to shift that focus at will. This pattern of attention and concentration is what is required in classroom situations.
One of the key aspects of ADD is not only that sufferers can’t focus on something for very long. ADD sufferers can’t choose what they are focusing on or what attracts their attention. This can become very apparent when undertaking a routine task like crossing the road. If they are required to wait then their attention can quickly be drawn to something else.
In the ADD sufferers brain there is inadequate stimulus to release neuro chemicals and this forces them to look for something else. For ADD sufferers this is a reflex reaction over which they have no control.
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Hopefully these notes will have provided some insight into what underpins Attention Deficit Disorder. Many forms of treatment exist, including drugs, but outdoor activity has been found to be therapeutic. Bushcraft courses can be a great way to learn about the outdoors at any time of year. Just make sure you are wrapped up in some warm outdoor clothing and you take along a good sleeping bag.
