As ADD/ADHD gains more attention given the increasing number of children, or even adults, diagnosed to be stricken with the disorder, more and more parents or relatives or friends of these sufferers are looking for sources of ADD/ADHD support. While the childs family and friends must be the first line of support, treatment - psychological or otherwise - and other support mechanisms not only for the child but for his family, too, can be availed from a number of sources.
In the U.S., where an estimated 3 to 5 percent of school children are attention deficit hyperactive according to the American Psychiatric Association, the government and private sector provide support groups and organizations for ADD/ADHD. The National Institute of Mental Health is at the forefront of research and studies on ADD/ADHD. Then there is the self-help group called CHADD, acronym for Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. CHADD has been a very strong advocate for ADD/ADHD awareness and treatment. Two other entities, the National Center for Learning Disabilities and the Learning Disabilities Association of America, can also provide a lot of information and support based on researches conducted on ADD/ADHD. Of course, ADD/ADHD being an ailment brought from childhood, the American Academy of Pediatrics will have a big stake in finding pediatric links on the disorder. Another professional organization that looks at behavioral problems, ADD/ADHD included, is the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation publishes materials to provide factual information. A non-profit consumer group, the American Council on Science and Health, also gets funding from food and medical companies for research on the disorder.
Of course, aside from these larger groups, there are ADD ADHD support groups all across the globe, the disorder being a globally accepted concern. Some are community-initiated, others by individuals, still others by families or friends of the ADD/ADHD afflicted. A parent of an attention deficit hyperactive child can always check around locally if a support group, a foundation or NGO probably, exists there. Where none exists, there are always the government agencies, or the other networks and organizations found in the web. For starters, one can visit www.ADD.About.com for a directory of local and international, even online groups dealing with ADD/ADHD.
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