British Institute What Is


	What Is
	A.D.D Attention Deficit Disorder Modulation of sensory input is critical to our ability to engage in daily activities. The filtering of sensations and attending to those that are relevant and maintaining attention to a task, all require modulation. When modulation is inadequate, attention is usually continually diverted to ongoing changes in the sensory environment. Depending on the sensory system (or systems) most affected and whether individuals tend to overreact or underreact to sensation, deficits in modulation manifest in several different ways. ADD is characterized by distractibility, poor concentration for an extended period of time, and a tendency to drift away from ongoing activities, including conversations. << Collapse More Information >> A.D.H.D Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder is characterized by disruptive behavior, an inability to control activity levels or impulses, and/or difficulty concentrating. << Collapse More Information >> Autism Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize. Research has shown that a majority of children and adults with autism display unusual responses to sensory input. It is distinguished not by a single symptom, but by a characteristic triad of symptoms. Autistic children usually exhibit a lack of social responsiveness; very limited and unusual communication patterns; unusual patterns of behavior such as lack of eye contact and/or self-stimulation including rocking, spinning, or flapping; self-injury including head-banging or hand-biting; an obsessive interest in particular objects; and an obsessive need for sameness and routine. << Collapse More Information >> Dyslexia Dyslexia is a reading disorder that involves difficulties not only in the recognition but also comprehension of words. Reading is often slow and characterized by omitted, substituted, or distorted words. Such difficulties often extend to spelling and writing as well. << Collapse More Information >>