The A.D.D. Nutrition Solution: Book Excerpt
by Marcia
Zimmerman, C.N.
The following is an excerpt from the
book: The A.D.D. Nutrition Solution: A Drug-Free 30-Day Plan by
Marcia Zimmerman, C.N.
Published by Owl Books/Henry Holt
Chapter 1: Do I or My Child Have An Attention Deficit Disorder
What are attention deficits exactly and how do you know if you
are suffering from them? These are the first questions we must
address before discussing treatment of ADD. To do so, let's take
a quick look at the history of this condition and the evolution
of its definition and diagnosis.
Attention deficits have
evolved over the years in the terminology used and the
classification of the symptoms. The latest revisions to the
disorders are defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, or DSM IV. Currently all
attention deficits are grouped under the designation AD/HD or
attention deficit/hyperactive disorder. Two main categories of
AD/HD are defined, AD/HD predominantly inattentive and AD/HD
predominantly hyperactive-impulsive. A third category is
considered, AD/HD-combined, that is, a combination of
inattentive and hyperactive or impulsive types. For all three
types, the condition must have persisted for at least six
months, and have occurred before the age of seven, in order to
be identified as a true attention deficit disorder. The adult
condition is diagnosed by examining childhood history,
interviewing parents and others who knew the individual as a
child, plus evaluating the adult symptoms.
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