| What is
ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, is a diagnostic term
used to describe children, who in the past, were diagnosed as having hyperactivity,
hyperkinesis*, minimal brain dysfunction and a host of other diagnostic labels. It is
considered to be a syndrome as it has as host of criteria for its’ definition. There
are three specific areas that characterize ADHD:
1. Attention Span
2. Impulse Control
3. Hyperactivity (not in all diagnoses)
ADHD is not always a short attention span, but rather an increased sense of
distractibility. ADHD students may possess a lengthy attention span for a preferred
activity, but may not be able to attend to a written assignment without becoming
distracted by an air conditioner vent, a flickering light or a bird chirping outside. They
lack the ability to block out extraneous and irrelevant stimuli. Instead of attending to
one specific task, they instead pay attention to everything in their environment.
*increased muscular function or activity
Facts about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- The most commonly diagnosed pediatric neuro-developmental/behavioral/psychiatric
disorder.
- Males appear to be more affected than females by a 3:1 ratio.
- ADHD affects roughly 3-10% of the school age population and 30-40% of all referrals to
doctors or other mental health professionals.
Common Characteristics of ADHD
Inattentiveness
- Easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
- Difficulty listening and following directions
- Difficulty focusing and sustaining attention
- Difficulty concentrating and attending to a task
- Inconsistent performance in school work
Hyperactivity
- Tunes-out, may appear "spacey" or daydream
- Disorganized – loses belongings, room or desk may be cluttered
- Poor study skills
- Difficulty working independently
- High activity level: constantly in motion, fidgets, roams, plays with objects nearby
- Impulsive and lack of self-control; cannot stop and think before acting
- Difficulty with transitions/changing activities
- Aggressive behavior and easily over-stimulated
- Socially immature
- Low self-esteem and high frustration
Diagnosing ADHD
There are three forms of ADHD: inattentiveness, hyperactivity-impulsivity and combined
type. According to the DSM-IV, 4th edition, a child must display six or more
symptoms and they must have persisted for at least six months to a degree that is
maladaptive and inconsistent with the child’s developmental level. Many symptoms
manifest themselves before age seven. Some of the impairments should be present in at
least two settings (e.g., school, church, home, dance classes, etc.) Because a key word in
the diagnostic protocol is maladaptive, there must be clear clinical evidence of a
significant impairment in social, academic or occupational functioning. Finally,
environmental and social issues must be ruled out in order to make an accurate diagnosis.
The diagnosis must be made by a medical professional, but the use of a
multi-disciplinary approach is needed as parents, teachers and other support professionals
are needed for observations and rating scale information. Unfortunately, there is not a
single diagnostic instrument available; therefore, a battery of test must be conducted.
They may include the following:
- Prenatal and birth history
- Past medical history
- Family-social history
- Behavioral history
- Developmental history
- School history and observations
- Neuropsychoeducational testing
- Behavior rating scales
- Neurological exam
Treatment approaches
Treatment is considered a multi-disciplinary
approach between the above illustrated categories. Ideally, parents, medical
professionals, and educators work collaboratively to appropriately treat the ADHD child. |
