Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, commonly known as ADHD, is a mental disorder that is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsiveness.
It affects people of all ages, but it is most commonly first diagnosed in school-aged children.
It is the most frequently diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children around the world, but diagnoses have been on the rise in the U.
S.
, despite numbers elsewhere in the world remaining roughly similar to previous years.
What could be causing this rise in the U.
S.
in particular, and is there anything that parents can do if their child has ADHD? The Rise Although ADHD is only present in around three to five percent of children worldwide, that number is much higher when you reach American soil.
A recent government survey indicates that 10 percent of American children have ADHD - a number far higher than the rest of the world, and one that is also notably higher than previous numbers in the U.
S.
Current estimates show that more than one million more children have ADHD in America than in previous years, bringing the total number of American children who have the disorder up to 5.
4 million.
This rise in ADHD in America has caused parents, healthcare providers and the scientific community to wonder exactly what it is about the U.
S.
that could be causing the increase in diagnoses.
How is this Happening? As with many diseases that are on the rise today, scientists seem to be baffled as to what could be causing an increase in ADHD in the U.
S.
The CDC suggests that a greater awareness and improved screening of children could be to credit for larger numbers of diagnoses, but this cannot account for all of the cases the American people are seeing.
Environmental medicine specialists believe that a large part of the increase is due to the environment in which we are raising our children.
Children are exposed to a vast number of chemicals to which mankind was previously less exposed.
Social factors may also be attributable, as could technological distractions.
What Should I Do? If you suspect that your child has ADHD, it is important that you have them screened for the disorder.
If their screening shows evidence that they are, in fact, affected by the disorder, there are several different options that you and your doctor can explore.
Many parents are content to put their children on medication, but you can also try removing environmental factors that could be creating a disruption in your child's physiology, or experiment with behavior therapy and lifestyle changes.