| Bodywork is perfectly suited for reducing the | | | | concentration, or impulsivity begin to affect |
| symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity | | | | performance in school, social relationships with |
| Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a condition typically | | | | other children, or behavior at home, ADHD may |
| appearing in young children, although teenagers | | | | be suspected. Because the symptoms of ADHD |
| and adults may also be affected. Someone with | | | | vary so much, ADHD must be diagnosed by a |
| ADHD has difficulty controlling their behavior and | | | | professional. Primarily consisting of stimulants, |
| or paying attention. It is estimated that between | | | | pharmaceutical intervention is the first choice in |
| 3 and 5 percent of children have ADHD, or | | | | treating ADHD. In an effort to control affected |
| approximately 2 million children in the United | | | | individuals, an increasing number of school age |
| States.Symptoms | | | | children are regularly medicated.The Brain |
| The principal characteristics of ADHD are | | | | The suggested etiology of ADHD consists of |
| inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. | | | | many proposed theories. Whether stemming from |
| Symptoms begin over the course of many | | | | genetics, environment or trauma, most experts |
| months, often with impulsiveness and | | | | agree the brains of individuals with this condition |
| hyperactivity preceding inattention, which may not | | | | function differently than those unaffected. |
| emerge for a year or more. A child who "can't sit | | | | Research scientists have learned a great deal |
| still" or is otherwise disruptive will be noticeable in | | | | about ADHD by using modern brain imaging |
| school, but the inattentive daydreamer may be | | | | technology. National Institute of Mental Health |
| overlooked. The impulsive child who acts before | | | | (NIMH) researchers found that children with ADHD |
| thinking may be considered a "discipline problem," | | | | had 3 to 4 percent smaller brain volume in several |
| while the child who is passive or sluggish may be | | | | regions, than age and gender matched controls. |
| viewed as unmotivated. Each of these children | | | | According to Jay Gordon, MD, a "deficiency in |
| may have different types of ADHD.All children are | | | | central nervous system dopamine probably |
| sometimes restless, sometimes act without | | | | causes many, if not most, of the problems |
| thinking and sometimes daydream. When the | | | | associated with ADHD. |
| child's hyperactivity, distractibility, poor | | | | |