can someone explain something...

[anon4now]

Can someone explain to me why a person with ADHD loses the ability to control their impulses. Either an explanation, or a link to an explanation.

Thanks.

Anon

[misty]

They lack the feedback mechanism to inhibit inappropriate behavior.

Not so much impulsive or not thinking before acting, rather a lack of inhibition of urges to act. ADHD kids have a difficulty in inhibiting any motor activity.

That's why ADHD children blurt out answers, break social rules, repeat recently corrected behavior, steal, lie, talk incessantly.

Inattention and distractibility appear to be related to low levels of Norepinephrine. ADHD Children can't judge which things in their environment are important and which should be ignored.

The impulse and behavior problems found in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) appear related to low levels of Dopamine in the brain. When dopamine levels are normal, we can repress the urge to do or say something in public, grab something interesting on a desk, blurt out our opinion, or touch/poke someone who has just walked within our physical range. Low levels of dopamine in the brain makes control of impulsive behavior almost impossible in the ADHD Child.

[charliegirl]

Neurons in our brain are like spark plugs in a car. If one isn't working properly, when the car is running it isn't running as efficiently as it should. Its harder to start and harder to keep running. It can even sort of stutter when you are driving down the road.

When neurons aren't getting the proper full connection, the part of the brain that controls impulse and self control isn't getting all the power it should so it stutters at the wrong times.

I hope that is what you were wanting to know. Its the way I finally figured it out since when it comes to tech stuff and detail, I have problems connecting the dots and have to put them in my own language.

[lcdc1]

I explain it this way, my mouth moves before it even registers in my brain! There is a disconnect somewhere in there.

[anon4now]

Ok, Part II of my question.

What kind of medication is out there to help with this? I'm going to do some research, but have no idea where to go. Can someone point me in the right direction?

Anon

[charliegirl]

ADHD meds help with impulse control. If the ADHD is the sole cause, finding the right one for your child should make a huge difference.

I just found the results of a study done on impulse control. Its very easy to understand and being an ADHDer, I have to say that I think they are right. Here is an excerpt from it:

www.playattention.com/attention-deficit/articles/adhd-and-impulse-control/

The researchers found that while go processes and stop processes are independent processes, they are actually carried out on complex network of interacting neurons, which is rather paradoxical.

"For most of the race, ’stop’ and ‘go’ act independently.’Stop’ interacts with ‘go’ very briefly–it basically has one chance to knock ‘go’ out of the race. It needs to react strongly and rapidly after the stop signal is given," Schall said. "If it is successful, the subject stops his or her planned movement. If it is unsuccessful, the subject goes ahead. In individuals with impulse control problems, ’stop’ more often loses the race."

In relation to ADHD, Login cites, "Applying the model to children’s behavior revealed that stop signal task times are significantly longer in children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders than in other children. We think of people who are impulsive as acting too quickly. Kids with ADHD are actually slower on the ‘go’ task than the control kids. It’s not that they go too quickly; they stop too slowly."

[anon4now]

The Stopping too slowly...explains my son to the T! I'm going to read the whole article right now. I've been reading some med sites too, since the stimulants don't work for my son. A neurologist suggested a mood stabalizer (depakote). So that's what I'm going to research. On Monday I'm going to call his pediatrician. I think I'll go post some questions in the medical section. I orignally didn't think we were going to go this route this quickly but it looks like we're running out of options. Thanks for the tid-bit.

Anon

[charliegirl]

You're welcome. Meds are rarely the first choice for a parent but they seem to be the treatment which is the most effective overall. I was quite anti meds when I first started on our journey but after 4 years of reading about people's experiences, I have to say that I haven't heard of any other treatment which works as well as meds and coaching/therapy combined for most people.

[jill]

I say this is well covered well done.

[bryanh30]

Therapy was very helpful for me. I really think that understanding ADHD inside and out is the most important. I don't have anything against meds, I simply think that it is important learn as much as one can about ADHD. The more I have learned about ADHD, the better I have become at coping with it and realizing what I am doing. Of course, my ADHD is still there and I do things which I would rather not at times, but I have improved greatly since being diagnosed. I was diagnosed at the age of 37.

Hopefully there will come a day when I find a medication which I am not so sensitive to. I have not been able to successfully take any medication... that's me though...

Hope this helps,

Bryan