ADHD: Real Disabilities

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder has a complicated and interesting history and because of that it is important to understands this disorders implications and comorbidity to better treat and diagnose it. Research done by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that 11% of the US population between the ages of 4-17 are affected with ADHD; that’s 6.4 million children and the prevalence of diagnosis is only increasing (2016). It was generally assumed that ADHD was something children would grow out of but new studies show that approximately 4% of the adult population in the US are still suffering from ADHD or have developed ADHD (Breyer, J. L., Lee, S., Winters, K. C., August, G. J., & Realmuto, G. M. 2014). ADHD is

I remember watching old home videos of me and my sister and observing the contrast of our personalities even though she’s older than me by just one year.I specifically remember in one of those old tapes, my sister being loud,talkative and outgoing rambling about a bumblebee and me sitting in a corner attempting to pull the phone cord out of the wall.It was evident that I was the more shy and quiet sister.Around age five is when my character started to bloom due to my exposer and love of dance.

Ban, Els Van Den, et al. “Association between ADHD drug use and injuries among children and

Children with ASD sometimes present aggressive behavior, self-injurious behavior and tantrums that impede their ability to learn in an educational environment (home school). Sometimes medicine is used in an effort to calm the child to the point where they are able to learn in an educational environment. It is recommended that behavior therapy be considered as the first course of action. Doctors recommended Risperdal for Marginee` inability to relax. Risperdal is also used for treatment of irritability in children with ASD. For example, children that struggle with aggression, melt downs (tantrums) and self- injury. Though Marginee` did not take any other medications, there are other medication available to children with autism. For example, Zyprexa, which is used for treatment of aggression and serious behavioral, Prozac and Zoloft, are used for treatment in depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. All medicines have to be monitored due to various side effects.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) seems to be the affliction of this generation of children. It seems more prevalent every year. However, diagnosis criteria for ADHD is so subjective, what qualifies, who qualifies? There is no specific clinical cause for ADHD but it obviously exists. So many questions remain to be answered about ADHD. Are more children really being diagnosed with ADHD annually and is it really on the rise as it appears? Are too many children being wrongly diagnosed with ADHD as an easy way out because of other behavioral problems? And when ADHD is properly diagnosed are we overmedicating our children to make it easier for parents and teachers to cope? How often are other afflictions

My entire life I’ve struggled with ADHD. I’m capable of all the work given to me but so many teachers don’t understand how much of a struggle it is for me to focus. It’s not just an excuse for me to be lazy, or get time extensions. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder more well known as ADHD defined by Mayo Clinic as “A chronic condition including attention difficulty, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness.” So basically people with this condition have a hard time focusing, thinking through decisions, and staying still. This is a real condition that affects thousands of children and adults in the united states. The Center for Disease Control and

doctors prior to making the decision of whether or not to medicate their ADHD children. Capaccio, George. ADD and ADHD. Tarrytown,

ADHD is indeed a part of the Western Culture. People are familiar with the term, treatment and some behaviors that ‘shows’ its existence; and since it has become part of the culture itself it is considered as something relatively normal -or at least common. Both sides of the debate agree on the fact that the behaviors called ADHD do exist, but is it a biological disease? A conduct disorder? Or are we as humans trying to narrow our behaviors in the way where anyone who is not as ‘efficient’ as us are considered to be ‘sick’?

After reading the articles Driven to Distraction and Lost in Translation, both from Today’s Parent magazine, I have learned many new things. I learned that it is sometimes not very easy to pick out a child with ADHD, even if it is your own child. It could take years to discover that a child has ADHD. It can be easily detected once the child has entered elementary school. One of the signs of ADHD is falling behind in school, or acting up and not being able to pay attention for long periods of time. This causes frustration for the child, the parents, teachers and the other students in the classroom. It is difficult for parents because they do not want to believe that their child has a disability. It is even harder

Semrud-Clikeman, M., Pliszka, S., & Liotti, M. (2008). Executive functioning in children with attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder: Combined type with and without a stimulant medication history. Neuropsychology, 22(3), 329-340. doi:10.1037/0894-4105.22.3.329

Attention Deficit with hyper activity Disorder commonly known as ADHD is classified as a disruptive behavior disorder usually diagnosed in childhood. ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed behavior disorder of childhood. It appears to be more common in boys than it is girls. This Disorder is more common in boys than in girls and approximately five in one hundred children are affected (Busing). There are three subtypes: Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, predominantly inattentive, combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive (most children have the combined type of ADHD)(nimh.nih.gov).The age of onset of ADHD is usually in preschool to early elementary school years.

3. to determine the degree of consistency between the sources and across situations with respect to reports of behaviours associated with ADHD.

Some students have major difficulties in life when faced with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or more commonly referred to as “ADHD” , although if recognized early by noticing symptoms this disorder can be properly treated and contained causing minimal troubles for the victim. ADHD will distinguish itself commonly at an early age. There are exceptions to this with ADHD in adults. Some people can go years without noticing their disorder. These people in particular fall to the devastating effects of this disorder. They do have the power in their

The study titled “Illicit use of Prescription ADHD Medications on College campuses, by DeSantis, Webb, & Noar, (2008) from the Journal of American College Health,” is both quantitative and qualitative in design, because the authors used mass surveys to gather statistics and in-depth interviews to collect personal information.

Give the fact that many children (and adults, for that matter exhibits some level of the symptoms of ADHD (i.e., inattention, impulsivity, or over activity), what approach could be used to ensure that children are appropriately identified with ADHD?