Have you ever found yourself making careless mistakes or having a lot of difficulty paying attention? Do you forget the things you're supposed to do? We all get distracted at times, get disorganized, act impulsively but, the difference is that for most people these behaviors are relatively infrequent and mild. For people with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder), these behaviors are consistent and severe. What is ADHD? ADHD by definition is a diagnosis applied to children and adults who consistently display certain traces of dysfunctional characteristic behaviors over a period of time It is characterized by poor attention, impaired impulse control, and excessive activity or physical restlessness. ADHD is not a learning disability; however, it does effect everyday tasks such as operating in a school setting and relationships.
             According to an article in the Washington Post, there is a new study which was conducted by the University of Maryland researchers that found that parents of children who have ADHD are more than 20 times more likely to have ADHD than parents whose children do not. In addition these parents are more than five times as likely to have other serious psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. The results of this study indicate the importance of identifying and treating the parents of ADHD children in order to successfully treat the ADHD child. (Washington Post, 2004)
             Treating ADHD involves multiple steps. The following is a list of the steps involved in treating ADHD:
             When these steps are utilized, effective treatment will result. (Hallowell & Ratey, 1994)
             Diagnosing ADHD in a parent or a child is the first step. Physicians use the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders) to diagnose the disease. A physician will use all the information gathered from parents and school personnel and compare it to the symptoms and diagnostic criteria in...