Causes

          The main cause of ADHD-C is genetic. Genes play a big part in regard to a person having or not having ADHD-C. However, some environmental effects are also held responsible for ADHD-C, such as a prenatal mother’s smoking, alcohol consumption or birthing problems or head injuries to the person with the disorder

                    

Reasons

            ADHD-C is known as a development impairment of Executive Functioning and involves dysfunction of some of the brain’s neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and noradrenalin. There are also disruptions of the neuronal connections between various parts of the brain. MRIs (Magnetic Resonate Imaging) have shown physical differences between the brain of a child with ADHD-C and that of the average child. With the brain of the ADHD-C child being smaller than that of children without ADHD-C.

It is thought the frontal lobes of the brain are concerned with Executive Functioning. It appears that those with ADHD-C and those with ADHD-I have some problem with their frontal lobes. In the case of ADHD-C there is also evidence that the basal ganglia (at the base of and in the middle of the brain) are also involved. Some researchers are also looking at the involvement of the temporal lobes (side of the brain – near the ear) and parts of the cerebellum (at the back and lower end of the brain).

The Effects

                     While some think that all of those with ADHD-C are male, they would be quite incorrect. Various sources have given different percentages in regard to the number of females v’s males who have ADHD-C. The best guess would be that some five to ten percent of those with ADHD-C are females with the rest of course being male. The best guess comes about as some researchers are now finding that females with ADHD-C are not refered to medical specialists as often as males.

While some children may appear to loose the symptoms of ADHD-C as they grow, this is not always the case. Even so, many may find their symptoms moderate somewhat with age. However, a child with ADHD-C will in most instances retain their symptoms all their life. Certain changes will take place, such they will not be so hyperactive or their participation in risky activities maybe moderated. They may also have learnt to control some aspects of their impulsivity and learnt how to motivate themselves better. Some with ADHD-C may take some thirty or forty years before their emotions "mature".

It is only in the past ten or so years that more attention has been given to adults with ADHD-C. There is very little research work being carried out with people after the age of thirty who are ADHD-C. It is known that there are people in their sixties, whose lives are still being impacted upon by ADHD-C.

Obviously the person with ADHD-C has attention difficulties, problems with their impulsivity and hyperactivity (when children). And problems with their working memory.

Most people who are affected by ADHD-C can have their schooling life, work life, social life, relationships and general living impacted upon badly. In fact it is a condition that a person would not want to have.

The school life of an ADHD-C child is affected due to the fact they are not able to self motivate, or self inhibit; they are distracted by anything which is happening about them and of course they are not able to sit still and quietly. They are therefore disruptive in class. They get bored with things, which do not give them an instant reward.

Then coupled with the problems that ADHD-C gives them they have about a fifty percent chance of having some co-morbid condition as well. This can be a learning disability of some kind. Or they can suffer from General Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or Depression or possibly Tourette’s Syndrome. Quite a few children will also have Oppositional Defiancey. Some will have Conduct Disorder. Naturally with the symptoms of ADHD-C, these added co-morbid complaints do not make life any easier for the child with ADHD-C or those who live with the child.

As ADHD-C is mostly from genetic causes, there is every likelihood that one of the parents of an ADHD-C child is also ADHD-C or possibly ADHD-I (environmental factors account for the differences). Unfortunately due to their own ADHD-C or ADHD-I they are poorly equipped to be parents. Particularly so, if they do not fully inform and educate themselves about the disorder, understand how it impacts on themselves and their child(ren).

As stated previously ADHD-C is a problem with the brain’s executive functioning. The adult with ADHD-C can still have problems motivating themselves. As children they are just not able to motivate themselves or inhibit themselves. They have a poor sense of time; they can only see the current moment. They are just not able to do these things.

The child and the adult with ADHD-C takes in information correctly. However, it is when they take an action that their ADHD-C becomes obvious. They interrupt, they can’t wait, they are impulsive, and they act without any forethought. They say exactly what is on their mind. In fact they think out loud and therefore talk a lot. There is nothing wrong with their short or long term memories. Nor is there anything wrong with the information they retrieve and use from these memories. It is what they do with it, which is the problem. It is their lack of the ability to self inhibit, their motivation problems, which get in the way and cause the problems they have with their lives in general. These problems are compounded by the fact that they have not learnt to moderate or control their emotions. All of this leads to some ADHD-C children being termed aggressive.

A person with ADHD-C experiences the appropriate emotions, however, they allow the entire world to see how they are feeling emotionally. It can take some years before they are able to exert some control over them and deal with them internally as others do.

An ADHD-C child and adult for that matter can read the body language of others very well. When they read from the body language of the person they are conversing with that they have gone too far, the problem comes in, as they are unable to inhibit themselves to stop talking or doing what they are doing, which is disturbing the other person. They just have to say what they need to say or complete what they are doing.

So it is not surprising to see the end result in an ADHD-C child or adult for that matter. They cannot self inhibit, they are not able to self motivate, they cannot help but react to their emotions, nor can they appreciate the passage of time and all of this with a working memory which is not up to par. Then of course there is the possible added problem of some co-morbid condition.

This all leads to a child, who is never still, who is impatient, who never gets their chores completed, who does not understand when told to do something in half an hour’s time; they are only aware of the here and now, who is aggressive if not physically, sounds aggressive due to not being able to quieten their emotional feelings.

A child who involves all about them in what they are doing. Who is disruptive when other children are playing, as they want to go first, or they want to play another game, their activities are such that the others think that they want to take control of the play and they may well want to. An ADHD-C is not a happy child, they have very few if any friends; no one wants to play with them. They are likely doing poorly with their school studies and fight with siblings and parents.

It has been said by one well-known researcher that ADHD-C causes a child or a person with the disorder to be some 7 to 10 points under the reading for intelligence that they would have been if it were not for their ADHD-C. However, other researchers say that they are just the same as people without ADHD-C. Even so, ADHD-C does not make anyone with it any more intelligent than those without it.

Treatment

                   If not treated and if growing up in poor social and economic conditions the child that has ADHD-C can be facing a grim future. They may not complete their schooling. It is not unheard of that an adult person with ADHD-C will go back into education, when they have either been treated, or their symptoms are in more control. The ADHD-C person may be in and out of jobs, and can have a good chance of becoming a drug addict. They are more likely to have failed marriages and of course if they grow up with ADHD-C and Conduct Disorder the odds that they will end up in jail are increased.

Even though the ADHD-C child or adult has these problems with their executive functioning they are responsible for their actions. They know the difference between right and wrong.

If a person’s ADHD-C is causing problems in their every day life they should seek treatment and at the same time to find out all they can about ADHD-C. Usual treatment is medication and sometimes, therapy. And of course they may likely need some remedial schooling or coaching.

If you are hesitant to place a child in stimulate medication this is understandable. However, before deciding not to do so, find out what would be the cost of not placing the child on the medication. It may be higher cost than you would wish your child to pay. For they may in their teen years start self-medicating and this only leads to drug addiction and possibly illegal actions. Discuss the issue well with your doctor.

There are some good points in having ADHD-C. These are innovation, willing to take a risk, energetic, very good at reading other people’s body language, feel for others, can persist when others have given up, can be creative, are quick witted, have a good sense of humor and are loyal. And most importantly, while to some this may sound at odds to the above, they do want to please others.

And lastly it is most important that the parents of an ADHD-C child find out all they can about ADHD-C and the same applies for any adult who had to wait till their adult years to be diagnosed. The next most important thing is to seek treatment. Why? Because if the condition became obvious then all is not well; obviously something needs to be done. And most likely that will be a stimulate drug of some kind and possibly therapy, if not for the ADHD-C but any co-morbid condition which may also be there.