Why are stimulants given for those with ADHD??

Stimulants increase acitvity, and those with ADHD are hyperactive. I don't understand why adderall and other simulants are given. Can anyone please explain this to me??? Also, how does a docor even diagnose ADHD??

Stimulants like methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine have a paradoxical effect on persons with ADHD, enabling them to sustain a better focus of attention. Conversely, if you give a person with ADHD a barbiturate, it is likely to jack them up rather than calm them down.

ADHD is diagnosed by careful history and physical exam. The typical child may have a tendency to be destructive, to take things apart, to play poorly in group settings, to have few friends. He (males are more often affected than females) tends to be disruptive in the classroom and cannot focus on a subject for a reasonable length of time. Consequently he has difficulty learning, especially learning to read. On physical exam there may be problems with coordination or spatial recognition. We look for so-called soft neurological signs, but their significance is debated. Parents and teachers may be given a questionnaire such as a Vanderbilt assessment scale. It's available online at www.myadhd.com/vanderbiltparent6175.html

ADHD is a mental function in the brain. The function doesn't work properly and can strain your focus. That means you can't pay attention. Kids with ADHD, usually don't do well in school. Without adderall, they daze into space. Its a very confusing way to fix this problem. Most parents treat their kid with Adderall. There are many types of adderall. The doctor or physician will talk with the parents and teachers to discuss whats best. They take all what they know and figure out the medication(s). People who are hyper can take medication (adderall) to help calm them down. Parents and teachers may be given a questionnaire such as a Vanderbilt assessment scale. Hopefully you learned somethings by this.


ADHD is just a mental problem with the brain.

Some of the important functions of the brain are to modulate the effect of other functions. For instance, reaching to scratch your nose is a nice motor function to have, especially if your nose itches. But without the cerebellum keeping things in control, you might hit your nose hard enough to break it, or scratch so hard you bleed.
Likewise, it seems a modulating effect on the focusing of thoughts is where the problem lies in ADHD, so thoughts tend to flitter from one to another too quickly. Stimulating the modulator has an effect of allowing greater/longer concentration. In other words, what the stimulant speeds up most is the brake pedal.

One theory is that (in very basic terms) people with ADHD need lots of brain stimulation (to keep their brain happy so to speak). So by stimulating their brain with a drug it stops looking for OTHER ways to be stimulated, and they calm down and can focus, because their brain is not spending all its focus on trying to find stimulation in other ways.