{"id":5742,"date":"2013-03-05T18:00:07","date_gmt":"2013-03-05T17:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/?p=5742"},"modified":"2019-10-03T09:39:09","modified_gmt":"2019-10-03T07:39:09","slug":"normal-brain-vs-add-adhd-brain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/normale-brein-vs-add-adhd-brein\/","title":{"rendered":"The \"normal\" brain vs the ADD and ADHD brain"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-large\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">385<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">shared<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-large mash-center mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.addkenmerken.net%2Fen%2Fnormale-brein-vs-add-adhd-brein%2F%3Futm_source%3Dsharebuttons%26utm_medium%3Dfacebook%26utm_campaign%3Dmashshare\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Share<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-large mash-center mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/?p=5742&amp;via=krachtvanADHD\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Tweet<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-large mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Diagnosing ADD and ADHD<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-9342\" src=\"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/ADD-veel-informatie-verwerken-300x279.jpg\" alt=\"ADD and ADHD and a busy mind with lots of thoughts\" width=\"240\" height=\"223\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/ADD-veel-informatie-verwerken-300x279.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/ADD-veel-informatie-verwerken.jpg 398w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\">ADD and ADHD can still not be diagnosed by means of a measurement as can be done for a real disease like diabetes, for example. Of course, ADD and ADHD is not a disease, but a developmental disorder of the brain is assumed. This diagnosis can really only be made on the basis of symptoms. For example, symptoms like lack of concentration, impulsivity, hyperactivity, dreamy, busy-headed etc. It also looks at your past behaviour. This is often accompanied by consulting school reports and conversations with parents and\/or acquaintances. As an extra addition, brain activity can be looked at, which is done through an EEG. This is mainly used in Neurofeedback therapy. When you finally meet the symptoms as described in the DSM-V, you can be diagnosed with ADD or ADHD.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">EEG<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As I wrote earlier, a <a title=\"Brain activity, EEG and the different brain waves\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/brainwaves\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener \">EEG<\/a> map brain activity of the brain. It was found that all \u2018normal\u2019 people show roughly the same brain activity. Of course, you shouldn't compare an awake person with a sleeping person but if you compare 2 \u201chealthy\u201d people in awake state you will see many similarities in brain activity. A database was made of this and thus an average was established of what is considered \u2018normal\u2019 brain activity.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Abnormal brain activity<br \/>\n<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Now, when we look at the brain of someone with ADD or ADHD via an EEG, we generally see abnormal brain activity. This is not enough to diagnose ADD or ADHD as the averages are obtained from measurements over a whole group of people. Across the whole group, brain activity is different on average but if you pick out 1 person, he or she might just show much less abnormal brain waves.  Also, people with depression, anxiety disorder, autism, asperger's, OCS etc. show abnormal brain waves. Even people who experience no symptoms in daily life can sometimes show abnormal brain activity.<\/p>\n<p>But we can say, therefore, that we generally see the same differences in brain activity of people diagnosed with ADD or ADHD and those who do not have the diagnosis. If we compare these groups, we find that the people with ADD or ADHD have an underactive brain.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The \u201cnormal\u201d brain and the ADD\/ADHD brain<br \/>\n<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So in general, what are the differences in brain activity between a \u201cnormal brain\u201d and an ADD and ADHD brain? You can read more about this below. The clearest differences in brain activity are in <strong><a title=\"Theta, beta and all other brain waves in the brain\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/brainwaves\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener \">Theta and beta brainwaves<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Theta brain waves in ADD and ADHD<b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Hersenactiviteit-bij-ADD.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-9346\" src=\"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Hersenactiviteit-bij-ADD-300x287.jpg\" alt=\"Brain activity in ADD\" width=\"240\" height=\"230\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In an ADD \/ ADHD group, an above-average amount of theta brainwaves is mainly observed (Hermens et al., 2004; Mann et al., 1992; Chabot and Serfontein, 1996; Clarke et al., 1998, 2001; Lazzaro et al., 1998, 1999) This excessive theta activity is, as you have read earlier, accompanied by (day) dreaming. You are then unable to focus on tasks. So you cannot keep your attention on anything for long and suffer from concentration problems. So these are the attention deficit problems that a person with ADD or ADHD experiences.<\/p>\n<p>Whether this is a disorder you can argue about. Such a person will experience all kinds of symptoms in everyday life but only when there are certain expectations. If you are expected to concentrate and complete tasks on time and pay attention, etc., you will soon experience problems with all their consequences. Not being able to meet these expectations can lead to insecurity and burn-out, because you always have to be on your toes to keep up. If such a person is creative, this excessive theta activity is a must. It allows you to use your creativity and intuition to the fullest and thus you can be a source of inspiration for others.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">ADD \/ ADHD and beta activity<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It is also notable that people with <a title=\"ADD\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener \">ADD<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/characteristics-of-adhd\/\">ADHD<\/a> sometimes produce much slower beta brain waves. We also call these the high beta waves. The beta brainwaves allow you to perform well mentally when it comes to focusing on tasks and while talking and similar activities. At low levels of these beta brainwaves, you will have problems processing information. You will understand that this has a big impact on your daily life.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, some people have also been found to have excessive rapid beta activity. These are usually the HD people who only suffer from hyperactivity.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How can I positively influence my brainwaves?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Fortunately, there is a lot we can do to get into a pleasant state of consciousness and produce brainwaves that optimise our ability to learn, relax, focus, sleep, etc., for example. It is also of course nice to produce brainwaves that make us feel comfortable and relaxed. These are mainly the Alpha brainwaves. So we are not always just at the mercy of our environment and what it asks of us. Learn more about all <strong><a title=\"Brain waves explained further\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/brainwaves\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener \">brainwaves read here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Would you like to know what you, as an ADD, ADHD or HSP person, can do yourself to quickly and simply get your brain into an optimal state so that you can concentrate better and feel more comfortable and relaxed? Or, for example, to fall asleep more easily? Then be sure to read about Binaural Beats. You can read all about these Binaural Beats and to listen to these tones yourself to get your brain into the desired state of mind via the link below:<\/p>\n<p><strong><a title=\"How do you bring your brain into a relaxed Alpha brainwave state?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/binaural-beats-brain-in-alpha\/\">&gt; How Binaural Beats make you relax and feel good!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Diagnosing ADD and ADHD ADD and ADHD can still not be diagnosed by means of a measurement as is the case, for example, with a real disease like diabetes...<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9346,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[562,1131,1506,1132],"tags":[5,6,972,23,570,1042,564,969],"class_list":["post-5742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-het-brein","category-add","category-add-adhd","category-adhd-artikelen","tag-add","tag-adhd","tag-adhd-brein","tag-brein","tag-eeg","tag-hersenactiviteit","tag-hersengolven","tag-normaal-brein-adhd-brein"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5742","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5742"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5742\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.addkenmerken.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}