Showing posts with label Phones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Phones. Show all posts

Monday, 13 June 2011

Why Other Children are Rejecting Your Child

Introduction

Developing healthy peer relationships is critical for the normal development of a child. Peer relationships have been found to be an important predictor of positive adult adjustment and behavior. Difficulty in finding friends leads to feelings of low self-esteem and these feelings usually continue into adulthood.

Children with poor social skills are at risk for delinquency, academic underachievement, and school drop-out. Even though the inattentiveness, impulsiveness, and restlessness frequently persist into adult life, these problems are of less importance as the child gets older. Rather, the main difficulty ADHD patients encounter as
they reach maturity is their inability to interact appropriately with others.

ADHD children often lack the social skills that are essential to success in life. These children can be socially inept, and their lack of interpersonal skills may cause them a multitude of difficulties.In addition, positive relationships with friends in childhood provide a critical buffer against stress and help to protect against psychological and psychiatric problems. ADHD children lack these positive interactions and thus are at risk for
a number of emotional problems.

Probably 60% of ADHD children suffer from peer rejection. ADHD children are less often chosen by peers to be best friends, partners in activities, or seatmates. As the children grow older, their social problems seem to get worse. Their inappropriate behavior leads to further social rejection and exacerbates their inability to relate to others appropriately. Long term these children are more likely to have difficulty finding and maintaining
successful careers. This is not surprising since social aptitude can make or break careers and relationships in the adult world.

Causes of Poor Peer Relationships

ADHD children are frequently disliked or neglected by their peers. It is difficult to determine all the factors that make a child unpopular, but children who frequently display aggressive or negative behavior tend to be rejected by their peers.

Impulsivity and Aggression

ADHD children tend to be more impulsive and aggressive than other children. Teachers observe that the social interactions of ADHD children more often involve fighting and interrupting others. These children are more intense than others and behave inappropriately in social contexts. For example, ADHD children are more likely to yell, run around and talk at unsuitable times. They also tend to want to dominate play, engage in off task behaviors and engage more in teasing and physical jostling of peers.This sets up a process of peer rejection.

Academic Problems

ADHD children often do not do well in school. Poor school performance by itself does not result in social rejection. However, the way the child responds to his academic difficulties can contribute to inappropriate social behavior. Children who cannot engage themselves with classroom work assignments often
disrupt and irritate their peers.

Inattention

ADHD children have difficulty with sustained attention. Deficit in attention seems to be related to peer rejection independently of the aggressive, impulsive,and hyperactive behaviors of ADHD children. These children become bored more easily than other children. As a result, they are more likely to become disruptive in the classroom.

ADHD children have difficulty in modulating their behavior and changing their conduct as the situation demands. They have apparent social-cognitive deficits that limit their ability to encode and recall rules of social cues. Children with ADHD pay less attention to others verbally in games and other activities.

Many ADHD children are aware that they are socially inept. Children who are anxious or fearful about peer relations are unlikely to behave in an effective manner. These children withdraw from peer interactions and, in this way, limit their ability to gain acceptance and friendship.

Children are rejected by peers when they appear to be different. Similarity fosters social acceptance. Because ADHD children do not learn social clues as well as other children, they tend to be viewed as strange.

Bad Behavior

One of the keys to your child's social success is proper behavior. If your ADHD or ODD child frequently misbehaves, it is your obligation as a parent to teach your child how to improve his behavior.

If your child is aggressive or defiant, if he does not accept the authority of adults, or if he conducts himself in a such a way that children his age will view him as a behavior problem, then your child will have a difficult time making and maintaining friendships. The friends he will attract are other aggressive problem children, the type of child with whom which you would rather your child not associate.

All children need friends. Behavior problem children have trouble making friends with others, so these children tend to congregate together. They reinforce each other's bad behavior. If you are an aware parent and you have control of your child you can put a stop to friendships with these children. However, you must have control of your child's behavior in order to help him to avoid the trap of bad friends.

Conclusion

Helping children with ADHD build close peer relationships is an important goal to focus on, and is one that often may be over looked. You, as a parent, have the ability to help your child accomplish this important social goal. You should make every effort to help your child in this area. His psychological health and his happiness, both now and in the future, are very much dependent upon how successful he is at making and maintaining
childhood friendships.


Anthony Kane, MD

ADD ADHD Advances

http://addadhdadvances.com

Anthony Kane, MD is a physician and international lecturer who has been helping parents of children with ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder online since 2003. Get help with Oppositional Defiant Disorder child behavior (http://addadhdadvances.com/ODD.html), help with defiant teens (http://addadhdadvances.com/ntpcentral.html ) ADHD treatment (http://addadhdadvances.com/childyoulove.html ) and ADHD information.

Fidgeting in Children

The 'act of moving about restlessly' or 'the behavior of being continually in motion' is termed as fidgeting. When a person cannot sit still and constantly moves in his or her seat, holding something, playing with something around, he or she is called fidgety. Fidgeting in children is a common phenomenon, because children are full of energy and love moving their bodies. The child may fidget with anything right from hair, fingers, clothing or items on the table. Bouncing one's legs repeatedly while sitting is also fidgeting. Often parents receive complaints from school teachers that their children are fidgeting in classes, which causes them to worry. However, should fidgeting in children be a cause of concern?

Fidgeting in Children: No Need to Worry

Fidgeting in children can be an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptom. However, it is important to note that all children exhibiting fidgeting are not suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This is a common mis-diagnosis that happens. One cannot label every child who fidgets in class as a classic type of ADHD. Sometimes, the lack of challenge for certain gifted boys and girls at school makes them fidget in class. They may find what is happening in class too dull or boring for them and this leads them to fidget in class.

Some kids have a genetic disposition to fidget and tend to move around more than other kids. They are constantly moving and are mostly unaware of this habit of theirs. Instead of worrying about this habit and giving them unnecessary punishments, it is advised to accept this nature of theirs and allow them to fidget. While teaching them often parents feel they are not concentrating to what's being taught, however, check their comprehension after the conversation. They actually manage to concentrate despite all the wiggling and fidgeting.

Allow fidgety kids to have something in their hands or laps while teaching them. This keeps them calmer and happier. Just make sure the items you give them to fidget with are light in weight and also do not create any kind of racket. Encourage such children to express themselves in positive manners, that is allow them to play with an object without disrupting the class or hurling the object at somebody else.

Psychologists found that children who were permitted to move their hands freely were able to learn faster than other children who were prohibited from doing so. The various hand movements help kids think, learn and speak. They say that teachers should allow children to fidget in class, because this helps them learn more.

How to Stop Fidgeting

Although there is no way to completely do away with fidgeting, one can minimize fidgeting to some extent. Teachers and psychologists are always on the look out for new ways to stop kids from fidgeting in class and concentrate on what's being taught. Some teachers brought in stability balls in their classrooms and had children sit on them instead of chairs during class. They found that this change reduced the amount of fidgeting considerably in class. However, since long term use of stability balls result in bad posture, the students are made to get up and stretch after every half an hour. This idea has reduced the amount of wiggling and slouching in class, because the child can bounce on the ball, move a little, etc. while sitting on the ball. Providing a stimulating environment for the child will help reduce the amount of fidgeting around. Even holding and squeezing a stress ball during class will help the kids.

Unless fidgeting causes distress to others or turns to agitation, there is no need to worry about it. Fidgeting in children is not such a bad thing. Help the kids redirect their energies and you will find them responding better to what they are being taught.

ADD Symptoms in Women

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a term used to define a condition where the person suffers from behavioral disorders. People suffering from this disorder have poor attention skills and also suffer from impulsive behavior. One of the other distinct characteristic of this condition is that people suffering from ADD or ADHD are extremely hyperactive. This disorder is mostly observed in toddlers and children. In their childhood, nearly half of the children are found to suffer from this disorder. However, it subsides when they mature or reach their adulthood. In some cases, the disorder continues even during the childhood. Here we will see more on ADD in case of adult women.

ADD Causes in Women
Peculiarly in the earlier times, ADD was though to be prevalent only in males. However, research and studies have pointed out that this condition is even observed in case of girls and women. However, the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in women is observed in two sub types. Some women are hyperactive while some others extremely sluggish. But both these types of women suffer from attention deficit or lack of attention syndrome. The exact cause of this disorder is unknown. Several factors like genetics, injury or trauma to the brain, nutrition, etc. are believed to be the potential causes of ADD in men and women. In most of the cases, it is found that the women diagnosed with ADD have been suffering from it since their childhood but were never diagnosed. This is because of the fact that in most of the societies, it is believed that females are always organized and are expected to be so. In most of the cases, those who are always clumsy and restless are actually suffering from ADD. Here are the symptoms of ADD in women. Read more on causes of ADHD.

ADD Symptoms in Women
As mentioned above, inability in paying attention is the most prominent symptom of ADD. Women suffering from this condition experience as if their mind is always elsewhere and it seems as if they cannot see, cannot hear or cannot remember things occurring in their surroundings. Also, they get distracted very easily and have an inability to pay attention to a thing or a conversation for more than a couple of minutes. Secondly, hyperactivity is also one of the most important ADD symptoms in women. However, this is not observed in case of all women. Apart from these, the following are the other symptoms of ADD in women.

    * Depression
    * Inability to remember things
    * Sleep disorders
    * Insomnia
    * Worthlessness
    * Anxiety
    * Poor sense of time
    * Hypersensitivity to touch, smell, noise
    * Emotional excesses
    * Mood swings
    * Self absorbed
    * Poor coordination
    * Lack of organization
    * Inability to make quick decisions
    * Inability to focus
    * Low self esteem

These are some of the ADD symptoms in women. The lack of organization, inability to focus and manage things in time, leads to depression and very low self esteem in women. Often they begin with one task, get quickly distracted and find it difficult to complete the actual task. This also leads to a feeling of worthlessness in women suffering from ADD. If you are wondering what is the suitable ADHD treatment, then there is no specific treatment, only behavioral changes. Some modification in the behavior and working pattern can help to overcome this disorder. There are also some ADD medications that might be given for improving concentration and reducing hyperactivity. Read more on ADD signs and symptoms.

This was brief information on ADD symptoms in women. It is essential for women to identify the symptoms and get this condition diagnosed as early as possible in order to learn to cope up with it soon. Take care!

ADHD Symptoms in Adults

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD is a chronic neurological disorder which affects children and also persists into adulthood. This condition is also known as hyperactivity or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). There are three types of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, they are ADHD mainly inattentive, ADHD mainly hyperactive impulsive and ADHD combined. Some doctors believe that the ADHD symptoms can be observed during childhood and these symptoms often continue to exist in the teens and into adulthood. It is essential to notice any signs of this condition and identify them in childhood itself to prevent them from becoming intense. Adults who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are unable to perform their daily activities properly and may also have relationship problems.

Unfortunately, the exact cause of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is not yet known but research has suggested that changes in the structure of the brain can be one of the causative factors. A few doctors and psychiatrists believe that this condition can be inherited in families. Pregnant women who smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs can give birth to children who are at an increased risk of contracting this chronic neurological disorder. Exposure to certain toxins like lead can also be one of the causes of ADHD. Let us take a look at the ADHD symptoms and treatment techniques.

Symptoms of ADHD in Adults

It is very difficult to define the ADHD symptoms in adults, mainly because there was no proper research conducted on this disorder in adults. The symptoms can be categorized into two types - symptoms of impulsiveness and hyperactivity and inattentiveness symptoms. Other conditions which may be related to the symptoms of this chronic disorder are obsessive compulsive disorder, personality disorder and bipolar disorder. The ADHD symptoms may vary from the ADHD symptoms in children and teenagers. For instance, if a child shows hyperactivity as an ADHD symptom, when he grows up it may change into restlessness. However, a few of the common adult ADHD symptoms are listed below:

    * Occasional mood swings
    * Lack of attention and carelessness
    * Feeling stressed all the time and inability to cope with it
    * Getting angry at petty things
    * Being fidgety and restless
    * Unable to complete tasks
    * Switching to new tasks before completion of older ones
    * Showing impatience
    * Procrastination and getting bored quickly
    * Poor organizational skills
    * Cannot prioritize and unable to focus
    * Disorganized and constantly losing things
    * Acting on an impulse without worrying about the after effects

Treatment of ADHD in Adults

Diagnosing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults can be a bit challenging since ADHD symptoms in adults can be more or less similar to the symptoms caused due to alcohol or drug abuse, mood or anxiety disorders and certain medications. The doctor may evaluate the signs and symptoms of ADHD based on some criteria and questionnaires. Once the diagnosis is done, the doctor may prescribe some stimulants which help in balancing the neurotransmitters or the chemicals produced by the brain. The psychostimulants prescribed can include lisdexamfetamine, methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine etc. Some other ADHD medications like antidepressants and atomoxetine pills may be prescribed.

There are also a few herbal remedies for ADHD which are quite effective. Apart from these drugs and medications, the patient may also have to go for therapy and psychological counseling. Some psychotherapy techniques include cognitive behavioral therapy, marriage and family counseling. These therapies help in improving the self esteem, problem solving techniques of the individual. Regular therapy and counseling will help bring changes and improvement in the lifestyle and relationships of the individual. Apart from these treatment methods, proper ADHD diet, taking nutritional and herbal supplements and practicing yoga will also prove helpful when it comes to treating this neurological condition.

This was all about adult ADHD symptoms. Timely diagnosis and administering ADHD treatment for this neurobehavioral disorder will ensure that the individual leads a normal life.

ADHD Symptoms in Children

ADHD is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. As the name suggests, this condition is a cognitive disorder, quite common in children. A few significant signs such as hyperactivity, diffused concentration and uncontrolled behavioral patterns confirm this condition. ADHD disorder is classified in subtypes as listed below:

    * Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive
    * Predominantly inattentive
    * Combined Hyperactive-Impulsive and inattentive (this is most common in children)

So let's get into knowing ADHD symptoms in children, better.

Symptoms of ADHD in Children

As mentioned, key behavioral patterns in ADHD symptoms in children are excess hyperactivity, impulsiveness and inattention. Most of the times, these symptoms are ignored as they are confused with the playful attitude of the child. However, ADHD rings a bell of alarm if the child has the following symptoms for 6 months or more, and if these symptoms are more prominent than in other children.

Distinct ADHD Symptoms
Inattention (Predominantly inattentive subtype):

    * Easily distracted from focus
    * Forgetfulness
    * Difficulty in learning a new thing or completing a task
    * Not paying attention when he is addressed
    * Easily confused and disoriented
    * Day dreaming
    * Struggling to follow instructions or process information

Hyperactive and Impulsiveness (Combined Hyperactive-Impulsive and inattentive):

    * Extremely impatient and talkative
    * Blurting out inappropriate comments without a restraint on speech or thought about the consequences
    * Interrupting conversations
    * Playing and touching anything and everything that comes in their way
    * Squirming and fidgeting (read fidgeting in children), when things do not work their way

Causes of ADHD
Causes for ADHD symptoms in children are attributed to various reasons like:

    * Emotional trauma (like death in family or divorce)
    * Undetected seizures
    * Anxiety followed by depression
    * Existing medical disorders concerning brain
    * Smoking and drug abuse in pregnancy
    * Environmental toxins (like lead and polychlorinated biphenyls)
    * Heredity (1 in 4 children diagnosed with ADHD have at least one relative with the same condition)

Complications
Every disorder has a trailing list of complications. ADHD can be a trying condition for children and their family as children are not much aware that something is not right with their behavior. ADHD symptoms in children makes them more susceptible to other serious medical conditions like:

    * Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) (a hostile behavioral pattern towards authoritarian figures and is more prominent in boys)
    * Conduct Disorder (a repulsive behavioral form that includes stealing, destroying property, harming animals and fighting for no rhyme or reason)
    * Anxiety Disorders (most apparent outcome of aggravated ADHD symptoms, exhibiting fear, worry, shunning oneself from everyone and depression)
    * Learning Disabilities (A symptom mostly observed in classrooms where these children fail to focus on a subject and follow the instructions correctly)
    * Tourette Syndrome (a neurological disorder caused by compulsive vocal and muscular tics)

Treatment for ADHD in Children

Diagnosis precedes treatment for any medical condition. Unfortunately, there is no certain test that can diagnose ADHD symptoms in children. As mentioned earlier, if a child has persistent issues like low concentrating levels and defiantly impulsive behavior for no reason, for more than 6 months, the child needs medical attention. The doctor prepares a prognosis report on the child after examining the child medically and after having gathered requisite information about the child's health, behavior and issues at school and home. In United States, a manual: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has been prepared by American Psychiatric Association, which dictates the criteria for ADHD diagnosis. It states that the child must have six or more signs of ADHD symptoms from either of the subtypes of ADHD mentioned above.

Medications prescribed for ADHD treatment, are stimulant drugs (Methylphenidate, Dextroamphetamine-amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine) and non stimulant atomoxetine. These ADHD medications enhance the neurotransmitters of the brain and help in calming down impulsive behavior and symptoms of loss of focus and hyperactivity. However, these stimulant drugs have varying effects with a few showing effect for 4 hours and some for 6-12 hours. Methylphenidate is recommended for children (aged 6 years -12 years). However, every child responds differently to the medication and hence these drugs pose side effects too, like loss of appetite, irritability, weight loss, muscle twitches and sleeplessness. In cases, where side effects surpass the desired effect on the child, non stimulant drugs are prescribed. These medications also aid in bringing down the anxiety levels in children. In a few cases, it has been observed that prolonged use of non stimulant drugs can induce suicidal thinking in children, which is a dangerous side effect.

Sometimes, what a medication cannot do, a therapy does! There are many counseling sessions for combating ADHD symptoms in children. Some alternative ADHD treatment options have been listed below:

    * Psychotherapy (Helping the older children talk their mind out about the issues they have faced and are facing in life)
    * Behavior therapy (A combined effort of parents and teachers working together to understand the behavioral patterns of the children)
    * Family therapy (Helping parents and siblings cope up with the trying times that are faced when a child from the family exhibits ADHD symptoms)
    * Social Skills training (Teaching children about appropriate social behavior)

Children are like flowers which bloom only when tended with care and attention. Many a times, ADHD symptoms in children are confused with naughtiness and hyperactivity in toddlers. This is one of the main reasons as to why it is difficult to diagnose this condition. Reprimanding a child with ADHD will get you nowhere. It is better to observe your child's activities, if you feel he is inattentive and impulsive for most of the times. And after 6 months, you can fix an appointment with the doctor to confirm your doubts! Do read child support guidelines (on our website), for helping children, who are diagnosed with this condition. ADHD is not a disease, but a disorder which can be treated over a period of time with good care and affection. Natural remedies for ADHD children are available, both diet and herbal based. For more information, you may refer our article: Herbal remedies for ADHD. All said and done, the most important tip should not be missed out: Be patient with your child and give him your precious time. The time you spend with your child, hearing his incessant chatter, is worth it!

ADHD Symptoms in Teenagers

If your child has entered adolescence and is exhibiting traits of impulsive nature, irritability and persistent distraction over a long span of time, it is best to consult a doctor to diagnose the medical condition, if there is a doubt of ADHD. ADHD is also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This condition is found prominently in children and toddlers, though the symptoms can also show up in adolescents. Studies have shown that about 8-10% of the school children are affected with this behavioral disorder, and the most affected are teenagers. So to understand this disorder in teens, it is first important to understand the ADHD symptoms in teenagers.

Symptoms of ADHD in Teenagers

Teenage is a trying time not only for the teen, but for the family too. And if the teen is suffering from ADHD symptoms, it can get worse. Because diagnosing this condition is not easy, as many of the symptoms exhibited in this condition are ambiguous with the normal teen behavior of hyperactivity, irritability and impulsiveness. And in some cases, symptoms of ADHD in teenagers also coexist with anxiety disorders and mood swings, which makes it even more difficult to detect. Drug abuse can also mimic ADHD symptoms in teenagers. The symptoms of ADHD are classified across three categories of the disorder

    * Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive
    * Predominantly inattentive
    * Combined Hyperactive-Impulsive and inattentive

Of the above, the third one is most common in children and toddlers and the rest are common in teens and adults. Below are some prominent ADHD symptoms in teenagers.

    * Lack of concentration and extremely restless (Predominantly inattentive)
    * Easily distracted (Predominantly inattentive)
    * Insomnia (Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive)
    * Difficulty in following instructions and organizing tasks (Predominantly inattentive)
    * Jumping from one task to another without finishing the first (Predominantly inattentive)
    * High levels of impulsiveness and aggression(Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive)
    * Incessant talking and interrupting conversation (Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive)
    * Poor listening (Predominantly inattentive)
    * Taking unwanted risks without assessing the consequences (Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive)
    * Extremely forgetful in daily activities (Predominantly inattentive)
    * Avoiding tasks and activities like homework (Predominantly inattentive)
    * Constant fidgeting with feet or hands (Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive)

ADHD Symptoms in teenagers are not attributed to any particular race or socioeconomic background. Causes of ADHD are mostly factored by conditions like emotional trauma (like death or divorce), anxiety, smoking, drug abuse during pregnancy, grave effects of environmental toxins and heredity.

Teenage is a phase when there are certain hormonal developments and changes which are managed by the endocrine and nervous system of the body. The neurotransmitters in the body help the brain to form, translate, store and recall the thoughts. Two of the important neurotransmitters which are responsible for this function are dopamine and acetylcholine (responsible for controlling memory, attention, reasoning, perception and judgment). Any fluctuations in their levels can alter the brain function. ADHD symptoms in teens attribute to low levels of these neurotransmitters. Such chemical imbalances can be caused due to the above mentioned causes related to anxiety and depression. ADHD symptoms in children can leave a deep scar in the psychology of the child, if not identified on time.

ADHD Treatment is a mix of both medical and psychological treatment. ADHD medications like Methylphenidate, Dextroamphetamine-amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine) and non stimulant atomoxetine are used for treating ADHD symptoms in teenagers. They help in calming down the jittery nerves and enhance the neurotransmitter levels. Besides, teenagers are also advised to opt for ADHD treatment options that include psychotherapy, behavioral therapy and social skills training which pep up their confidence and socializing ability.

Teenage is a time, when many pressures like peer pressure, parental pressure and academic pressure strike the teen at the same time. And if the above ADHD symptoms in teenagers are ignored, it may lead to a severe emotional disturbance in the teen, resulting in unwelcome situations like traffic accidents, teen pregnancies and obsessive compulsive disorders. Parents need to understand these symptoms and should take the help of academic and psychological counseling for their children to help them overcome this roller coaster phase of their life.

ADHD Symptoms in Toddlers

Recognizing ADHD symptoms in toddlers is necessary for all parents, as this can prepare them for the hardships that lie ahead. Though ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), also known as ADD, occurs in varying levels amongst children and adults, it can still have a crippling effect on families. By recognizing its signs and symptoms at an early stage, the parents of the child can start providing the child with some special attention, and nurture the best out of them.

When ADHD is discovered at a later stage, things get very difficult for everyone involved. The parents are left perplexed at the complexity of the condition, and the child's mind is thrown into a lot of turmoil. As a result, there is a lot of unpleasantness generated, and this is something that ruins the family life and the peace of mind of the child and everyone else involved.

Symptoms of ADHD in Toddlers

Once you understand the importance of noting ADHD symptoms in children at a young age, you should start looking out for potential signs. You must read up on the subject extensively, and get all the possible information that you can. If you suspect that your child may be suffering from this condition, then you must visit a specialist and plan your next step. You must also remember that children have tendencies that adults cannot understand sometimes, so you must not over react to certain situations, and must treat the condition with no small amount of sensitivity. Here are some common signs and symptoms of ADHD that you must be on the lookout for.

    * The biggest sign of ADHD is when the child faces great difficulty in concentrating on something. Whether he/she is 1 year old, or 5 years old, this factor remains constant. A short attention span is normal in children, but it is also one of the prominent and widespread ADHD symptoms in toddlers.
    * Another obvious sign is constant fidgeting in children. This is something that accompanies the lack of concentration. No matter what the child is doing at any time, he/she is always fidgeting with something in his/her hand, and this contributes to the lack of attention.
    * Hypersensitivity is another thing you should be on the lookout for. This can be noticed if the child displays intense dislike and aversion to being touched, or when a certain texture or material touches his/her body. The child will suddenly start screaming and panicking, and this is one of the well known ADHD symptoms. This also happens to be one of the ADHD symptoms in adults.
    * When children suffer from this condition, they move around very quickly and impulsively, without thinking about the consequences of what they are doing. As a result, they will be very accident prone, and will keep bumping into things and falling all over the place, and thus hurting themselves.
    * Another common sign of this disorder is when the child has immense trouble falling asleep at night. This will happen because the mind of the child will keep wandering from one object to another, and this will prevent him/her from falling asleep in peace.
    * Children who suffer from ADD cry excessively, and are very difficult to soothe. This is a symptom that is hard to recognize because all children cry from time to time, but ADHD afflicted children are excessively hard to placate. There are many forms of ADHD treatment that can cure this.
    * The last of the ADHD symptoms that you should be on the lookout for is the ease with which the child lets you feed him/her. Children suffering from this condition will be very hard to feed, as their attention will keep loitering around very rapidly.

One of the biggest causes of ADHD is the genetic makeup of the child, and it occurs in different degrees in different children. Each child is unique, and you will require a distinct way to deal with their issues. Visit a psychologist and enquire about treatment for ADHD in toddlers. Recognizing the ADHD symptoms in toddlers early is beneficial, and you must learn to deal with the situation sensitively.

Friday, 10 June 2011

Cell Phone Recycling Facts

May dad was against cell phones and he used to scold us for using it. But today he has a cell phone and he keeps calling us from it. Well, this is a short and real life example of people getting addicted to this technology. It has become a necessity, and we cannot even think of living without our cell phone. There are millions of people who use more than one cell phone, and the old ones are just thrown away in the drawers or are just dumped in the trash can. But do you know that cell phones can be very hazardous to nature? Yes, that's true. The best way to save the environment from the dangerous effects of cell phones is to get it recycled. To know more about cell phone recycling facts, keep reading ahead.

Facts About Cell Phone Recycling

There is a huge list of facts about cell phone recycling. To start with, I will tell you a very interesting fact. Over 70% Americans have no idea that their old cell phones can be recycled. Let's find some more facts in the following points.

    * On an average, people in United States purchase a new cell phone every 18 months. In Europe, the frequency is 15 months, whereas in Japan, people get one every 9 months!
    * Most Americans own three or more than three cell phones, and more than 14 million cell phones are left idle every 18 months.
    * The National Office of Pollution Prevention of Environment, Canada, reports that next year, around 4,500 tons of cell phones, telephone and fax machines will be dumped. This quantity can be compared to the weight of nearly 600 African elephants.
    * INFORM Inc., North America, has reports that, 500 million cell phones, weighing over 250,000 tons, are left untouched, which should been given for recycling.
    * Do you know what a single cell phone can do if it is just thrown away? It can pollute 40,000 gallons of ground water.
    * An estimation shows that from the total e-waste produced by North America, about 50 to 80% is dumped in countries like China, Thailand, India and Pakistan. In these countries, people are given less wages and are exposed to toxic material without any protection.
    * A cell phone has toxic substances like antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc, which are very dangerous for the environment. They pollute the air, soil, as well as the water.
    * Toxic substances from cell phones may result in many health hazards such as cancer, fertility problems, defects in child birth, neurological problems, and development disorders.
    * Rechargeable batteries of the cell phones are also very harmful. They contain toxic substances like cadmium, lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride, which consists of cobalt, zinc, and copper, and many other heavy metals. These substances may be responsible for lung, liver, and kidney damage.
    * In cell phone recycling, many important metals like iron, copper, silver, etc., are recovered, which can be used in other areas. According to the reports given by the Environmental Protection Agency, every 1 million units of old cell phones recycling, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, 33 pounds of palladium and 35,274 pounds of copper is yield. This can saves energy which is used to mine these metals from the earth's crust.
    * One of the largest cell phone recycling company, ReCellular, collects about 25,000 cell phones daily from over 40,000 different collection sites.
    * Many people recycle cell phones for money. Yes, you can just give away your old cell phone and can get between $1 to $20, based on the standards set by the company.

By the above facts, you can understand the benefits of mobile phone recycling. So collect your old mobile phones and take them to the mobile recycling collection site. You may or may not get money for it, but remember you are doing this for your healthy environment. Make your family and friends too aware about the recycling facts, and help conserve nature.

Camera Phones History

To be happy in this world, first you need a cell phone and then you need an airplane. Then you're truly wireless.
~ Ted Turner

Well, well, well.... the desire to be truly wireless may be the driving force for modern day technology but the desire to capture and preserve memories goes a long way back in the history of human civilization. Even before they learnt the use of coherent vocalizations for communication and expression purposes, our cave dwelling ancestors recorded the memories of their primitive lives and exploits in the wilderness in the form of cave paintings. As homo sapiens became more and more civilized, technology in all spheres of life just kept getting better and ways and means of capturing and preserving memories became jazzier and more efficient. Various types of recording devices, both audio, visual and AV, have come and gone but the one that has made the most revolutionary impact is undisputedly the camera phone! Wondering why? Well, this is one device that allows you to capture visual memories in their still as well as motional forms besides taking care of all your communication and connectivity requirements! The following segment seeks to briefly acquaint you with a few significant milestones in camera phones history. So, click..... oops! I mean, scroll right ahead!

Brief History of Camera Phone
Any idea which is/ was the first camera phone to have ever hit the consumer market? Okay, forget about model, just make a wild guess about the manufacturer brand. Nokia? Nopes! Sony? Nah! Motorola? Nein! It was Kyocera and the model in question was VP-210 which was popularly marketed as the Visual Phone! This Kyocera model was developed and marketed in the year 1997. Sharp, Kyocera's closest competitor for the camera phone, also had the design of a camera phone ready around the same time. Both mobile phone models had integrated cameras and the only difference between both was that while the Kyocera model was designed for peer-to-peer video sharing, the Sharp model focused on instant still picture sharing. The first, most elementary camera phone was invented, however, by Philippe Kahn who integrated a small camera in his Motorola cellphone in 1997. This marked the genesis of commercially viable camera phones history. It is in collaboration with Kahn that Sharp developed its first commercial camera phone.

Going back to where it all began, you'll be surprised to know that designs and patents for complex technological blueprints that involved the convergence of multiple diverse technologies into one in a way that would enable the user to take advantage of all of their functionalities on a single platform, similar to voice communication devices with integrated cameras, had been around since as far back as the 1950s. The first viable camera phone prototype was developed by Daniel Henderson in the year 1993 and it looked nothing like the compact, stylish devices that we are familiar with today. Soon after the first camera phone model hit the consumer market and way before the rest of the world became aware of this technological innovation, more than half of Japan was already using camera phones! By the year 2000, camera phones took the rest of the world by storm! During those initial 2-3 years, owning a camera phone was considered a luxury and a status symbol. The ever increasing popularity of camera phones became a bane for camera manufacturers and two of the biggest camera manufacturers, Konica and Minolta, were compelled to go out of business owing to the massive losses faced by them in the face of the most formidable competitor of their products till date - camera phones. Between the years 2006 and 2010, camera phone technology saw a new height in terms of design, integration and economy and this lead to more varieties of lower priced of camera phones being launched in the market.

Post 2010, even inexpensive cellphones that offer very basic utilities such as making calls and texting started coming with cameras. The steady advance in image technology (right from resolution and picture clarity to sharpness, contrast and color accuracy, etc.) and performance of camera phones have lead to the emergence of multimedia messaging and the recent video calling phenomenon in cell phones. Also, the emergence of PDAs, Smartphones and 3G/ 4G technologies have only served to increase the demand of and preference for camera phones. Nokia, Apple, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and Samsung are biggest cell phone manufacturers to have introduced some of the best camera phones till date. Judging by the fast pace at which camera phones have made technical progress and seen commercial success, we can definitely expect to see more innovations in the future. Now, wouldn't a camera phone that snapped up pictures or recorded videos on voice command or on clicking fingers be awesomely tech-a-licious?