Adhd Treatment : A Literature Review Essay

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is classified as a syndrome that is comprised of a variety of behaviors that often arises in early childhood and is characterized by extremely high levels of motor activity, difficulties with attention span and concentrating, and/or impulsive behaviors (Cook & Cash, 2011). It has been estimated in the United States that approximately 20% of children and adolescents display signs of a psychological or behavioral disorder according to Luthy, David, Macintosh, Eden, and Beckstrand (2015). ADHD is considered one of the more prevalent psychological disorders in children, with approximately 3-7% of school-age children with an ADHD diagnosis as mentioned by Luthy et al. (2015).

As children we were used to jump around and ask a lot of question and be careless. Being hyper, curios, and talkative is part of the definition of the term childhood. Most children enjoy doing these activities, and about 15-20 years ago, it was very normal for a child to be hyperactive or talkative. However, nowadays, these behaviors may suggest a very serious condition. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a very usual childhood disorder, which can continue even through the adolescence and adulthood if left untreated. Symptoms of this disorder are very similar to what we defined as childhood behaviors but in a more obvious or harmful manner. Symptoms include lack of focus and attention, difficulty controlling behaviors, and hyperactivity. Children with ADHD can be defiant, socially inept, or aggressive. Also, adults with this condition have trouble getting organized, staying focused, and not thinking before acting. Moreover, They can be noisy, fidgety, and unable to adapt to any new situation. In this paper, I am going to discuss different types of ADHD, possible reasons for this condition, details about its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment methods, and possible flaws of this disorder.

ADHD affects more than 6 million children between the ages of 4-17 that causes them not to stay on task, have impulsive behaviors, poor academic performance and trouble with social interactions (Church, 2014). These symptoms are usually observed at home, school, and other social settings when compared to other children. Stimulant medications are prescribed as treatment to help reduce the symptoms and are recommended to be taken through adulthood (Church, 2014). However, once diagnosed, parents, adults and prescribers should look into alternative options first to help decrease the amount of medications needed (Church, 2014). The primary goal for any person with ADHD should consider behavioral modification or behavioral therapy, diet, and an environment change. Parents can also include attention and visual training, traditional talking and different techniques of discipline (The Nemours Foundation, 2017). Therapy attempts to change behavior patterns and helping not only the kids but struggling parents

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD, has become a well-known disorder that our ears hear lightly and many don’t think twice about. Although, ADHD is presented in over 11,000,000 people that are living in the United States (Frank, 2017). ADHD is prevalent in both women and men of all various ages. Once one has this disorder, it stays with them forever. However, many therapists as well as psychologist believe that this disorder is over diagnosed and leads into false and inaccurate prescriptions. Due to ADHD being primarily diagnosed at the age of 7 (Holland, 2014), the main symptoms leading into the identity of ADHD are hyper activity, being easily distracted, acting out, daydreaming, physical aggression, and a lack

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common and most distressing disorders amongst school-age children, yet it is probably one of the least well understood. It has received a lot of awareness mainly because of the large numbers of children receiving drug treatment for the disorder. Where children have behavioural problems and parents are finding it hard to manage, it is expected that they will turn to teachers for guidance and help. ADHD can drastically affect children's development at school, not only their work but also their social progress and the relationships that they have with teachers and their peers. If not identified early, long-term

Abikoff, Howard. "ADHD Psychosocial Treatments: Generalization Reconsidered." Journal Of Attention Disorders 13.3 (2009): 207-210. ERIC. Web. 6 Mar. 2016.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (“ADHD”) is a common childhood disorder that represents developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity and overactivity. It occurs in 3% to 5% of the school age population as stated by (Craighead, Craighead, Kazdin & Mahoney, 1994). Another author (Barkley, 1981) stated that ADHD occurs in at least one child in every classroom. As a result of these statistics, ADHD has become one of the most commonly referred and heavily studied psychological disorders of childhood. Studies show that about 50-60% of children with ADHD in the age range of five to seven years are hostile and defiant. By the

ADHD is a behavioral disorder that includes difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness, and the common drugs Adderall and Ritalin are often prescribed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The goal of ADHD medication is to increase dopamine levels in the brain and to help reduce symptoms of hyperactivity, inattentiveness and impulsivity. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with motivation, pleasure, attention, and movement. CNN reports that “ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that fewer than 1 in 3 children with ADHD receive both medication treatment and behavioral therapy”(Drexler). The new research, published as two reports in the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, found that children who began treatment with approaches -- such as instruction in basic social skills, based on a simple, but specific, system of rewards and consequences -- fared significantly better than those whose treatment began with a pharmaceutical, even if both treatments were ultimately combined into one therapy (Drexler). Restructuring and modifying a child’s environment can reduce a child’s stress and reduce many of the symptoms associated with ADHD. Behavior management strategies can help a child make sense of their world so that they can better understand cause-and-effect and be able to better predict consequences. An emphasis

Howard and Landeau’s (2011) research article also found that intervention plans must be developed based on the unique needs of each child. The research indicates that combined treatments such as medication plus behavioral interventions, tend to be most successful in reducing ADHD symptoms and improving the overall functioning of the child. They found a functional behavior assessment to be a valuable assessment strategy in determining how to replace inappropriate behaviors with more desirable behavior. A school psychologist or social worker usually does a functional behavior assessment by systematically observing the child to determine why a behavior occurs and its purpose or function. Rewards-based interventions, social skills training, and organizational skills development are effective in reducing

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—5th edition (DSM-5), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a “persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development, with symptoms present in two or more settings, and negatively impacts directly on social, academic or occupational functioning” (ADHD Educational Institute).  The American Psychiatric Association divides ADHD symptoms into two categories; inattention and hyperactivity and impulsivity. These symptoms and behaviors can include failure to pay attention to details, fidgeting, inability to remain seated, and excessive talking (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder 2013). Researchers seek

These children often cause problems during class due to their impulsivity and inattentiveness. Studies have shown that consequence-based interventions are more effective when used alone than when combined with other behavioral approaches. However, one of the most affective interventions may involve self-regulation tasks. These practices were targeted for students with diagnosed ADHD. However, once these practices were

Gradually, as the child grows, disturbances in the neurotransmitter system of the brain are compensated, and some of the symptoms regress. However, in 30-70% of cases, the clinical manifestations of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (such as excessive impulsiveness, short temper, absent-mindedness, forgetfulness, restlessness, impatience, and frequent mood changes) can also be observed in adults. The factors of unfavorable prognosis of the syndrome are its combination with mental illnesses, the presence of psychopathology in the mother, as well as symptoms of impulsiveness in the patient. Social adaptation of children with attention deficit / hyperactivity syndrome can only be achieved if the family, school and society are interested and cooperated. The significant effect in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity syndrome is achieved by the combination of various methods of psychological work (both with the child and with his parents) and drug

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is a neurobehavioral disorder that affects school aged children with a high degree of inattention, excessive hyperactivity, impulsivity or a combination of any of these. In order for a child to be diagnosed with ADHD, there must be two different environments in which the child has displayed his or her symptoms and it must occur before the child is twelve years of age (Halter, 2014). Children have a high comorbidity level with developmental, learning and psychiatric problems. There are three types of ADHD; inattentive type, hyperactive-impulsive type and combination type. With inattentive type the child displays disorganization, is unable to complete tasks, becomes easily bored, and

The purpose of this research was to describe and understand Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the most effective treatment options that are available today. ADHD is a mental health disorder that affects 3-9% of the population in ways that, if left untreated, can wreak havoc on the mind of the sufferer. It makes concentration difficult, large tasks seem insurmountable, and causes impulsive and hyperactive tendencies. Fortunately, research and experiments have led to new and effective treatments to help those who suffer from this disorder (Dupaul 8). This research examined journal articles and internet sources on the topic to help unlock the complexities of the disorder through scientific research. It also was a way to

ADHD is an abbreviation for attention deficit/hyper activity disorder. It is commonly referred to as a psychiatric disorder in need of therapy. The origination of the disease is in the neuro-physiological brain construct, and the main cause of the disorder is considered to be genetic (Wilson, 2012). Many children with ADHD struggle with impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention (Unnever, Cullen, & Pratt, 2003). According to McNamara, Vervaeke, and Willoughby (2008), “attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder among children and adolescents. It affects between 3% and 5% of school age children” (p. 38). In a