Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Online

Well, there is an article about ADD, but ADHD is a much different thing. I thought it’d be good to write a little about it. ADHD stands for, “Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.” I’m getting most of this information from the Natural Resource Center of ADHD. (http://www.help4adhd.org/)
What is ADHD?
Children and adults get ADHD. It is characterized by having problems with attention, impulsivity, and overactivity. 4-6 percent of school-age children have ADHD, and 2-4 percent of adults have it. Although many think ADD is different from ADHD, some say it’s not. I’ll go with that it’s not, since I believe that it’s a whole different thing.
What ADHD does to your life
Many people with ADHD can be very successful; for example, Robin Williams (credit for the fact that he has ADHD goes to Cazz NP). However, if you are not treated for your ADHD, many awful things can happen, such as depression (I had this for a while), school failure, and problems with relationships. Conduct disorder, substance abuse, and job failure. In order to keep these things from happening, it’s important to identify ADHD early on.
Symptoms
I will put an asterisk before all the symptoms that I have, just so you know that people really get these. =P There are different types of ADHD, according to an article I’m looking at. ADHD-I, or ADHD predmoninately inattentive type, makes a child make careless mistakes, fail to be attentive, not listen enough, not follow instructions, not be organized, dislike tasks that require mental effort, lose things, be distracted, or *be forgetful of daily activities. ADHD-HI, or ADHD predominately hyperactive-impulsive type *makes a child fidget a lot, or *squirm in his or her chair, have difficultly being seated, run around a lot, have difficulty being quiet, talk a lot, blurt out questions before they’ve been completed, not take turns well (I hate when people with this go into JJ2 test servers =P), or interrupt others. I probably would share these symptoms if I wasn’t very shy. ADHD-C, or ADHD combined type, makes a child have symptoms from both of the above listed things. Many people with ADHD have a two to four year developmental delay that makes them appear to be less mature and/or responsible than other kids their age. ADHD sometimes occurs when you get another condition, such as depression, anxiety, or learning disabilities. Teenagers with ADHD have issues with getting independence, dealing with peer pressure, avoiding drugs, driving, and their sex life.
Treatment
ADHD can be treated by parental training, education on ADHD, counseling, or medication (i.e. Ridalin, Concerta, Stratera, etc.). I was on Ridalin for a long time, but now I take Concerta. When I don’t have my medicine, I get very hyper, very figety, I seem to like girls a lot more, I don’t think before I do things, I can’t get comfortable, and I all around feel bad. The last time I had forgot to take my Concerta, I destroyed my folder in my Design and Drawing class in school and got in trouble for it. Don’t ask why =P. I also shouted out, “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” out of an open car window at some pedestrians. This shows that people with ADHD are very dependent on medication, especially if they’ve been on the medication for a long time.
Finally, the article I used as a reference (http://www.chadd.org/fs/fs1.htm) has a lot of references itself in it. I suppose I should list them here…
1. American Psychiatric Association. (1994) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, D.C.: author.
2. Barkley, RA. (1998). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment. New York: Guilford Press Barkley RA. (1998)
3. Wolraich, M.L. Hannah, J.N. Pinnock, T.Y., Baumgaertel, Al, & Brown, J. (1996). Comparison of diagnostic criteria for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in a county-wide sample. Journal of the America Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 35, 319-324.
4. Murphy, K. R., & Barkley, R.A. (1996) The prevalence of DSM-IV symptoms of AD/HD in adult licensed drivers: Implications for clinical diagnosis. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 37, 393-401.
5. Adapted from the American Psychiatric Association. (1994) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, D.C.
6. MTA Cooperative Group. (1999) A 14-month randomized clinical trial of treatment strategies for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56, 12.
7. Brown, T.E. (2000) Attention-deficit disorders and comorbidities in children, adolescents, and adults. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press, Inc.
8. Goldman, L.S., Genel, M., Bezman, R, et.al. (1998) Diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents. Journal of the American Medical Association. April 8, 1998-Vol 279, No. 14, pg. 1105 (1100-1107)
9. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1999). Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General (Children and Mental Health). Rockville, MD: DHHR, SAMHSA, CMHS, NIH, NIMH.
10National Institute of Health. (1998). Diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Washington, D.C.: NIH Consensus Statement 1998 Nov 16-18; 16 (2): 1-37.
11. Spencer, T., Wilens, T., Biederman, J., Faraone, S. V., Ablon, J. S., & Lapey, K. (1995). A double-blind, crossover comparison of methylphenidate and placebo in adults with childhood- onset attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 52, 434-443.
12. Swanson, JM, McBurnett K, et al (1993) Effect of stimulant medication on children with attention deficit disorder: a “review of reviews.” Exceptional Children, 60, 154-162.
13. Barkley, RA, Fischer, M., Fletcher, K., & Smallish, L. (2001) Young adult outcome of hyperactive children as a function of severity of childhood conduct problems, I: Psychiatric status and mental health treatment. Submitted for publication.
14. Biederman J., Wilens T, et al (1999) Pharmacotherapy of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder reduces risk for substance use disorder. Pediatrics, 104, 2.
15. Weiss G, Hechtman L., Milroy T, et al (1985) Psychiatric studies of hyperactives as adults: a controlled prospective 15-yr follow-up of 63 hyperactive children. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 23, 211-220.
This is not proofread. It probably has lots of mistakes ;( Enjoy the article.
Also, a lot of people in the JJ2 community have ADHD. I think it seems much more common than 2-6 percent.