American Psychological Association (APA): A Case Study

First step to understanding this disorder is to understand how it is diagnosed and what criteria is required. There are 18 possible symptoms for ADHD that are divided into two categories, inattentive and hyperactivity/impulsive (Barkley 1997). In order to be diagnosed with ADHD an individual must show at least 6 symptoms in one category for 6 months (Barkley 1997). Depending on what category the symptoms were in the child would also be assigned to a subtype, either: predominantly inattentive or predominantly hyperactive/impulsive; but if the individual met criteria for both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive then the child would be diagnoses with ADHD combined (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 2013). Some of the symptoms that fall under the inattentive subtype are inability to stay focused on tasks (i.e. during lectures, conversations,

Inattention is one of the distinguishable traits of ADHD (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). A child suffering from the symptoms of inattention in ADHD would probably lag behind schoolwork, have problems with communicating, and would struggle with cognitive activities like reading and comprehension. APA listed a total of 9 symptoms that are crucial to identifying ADHD in children (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Following is the list of these symptoms and their brief explanation:

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).

Symptoms of adhd are not paying attention to detail, making careless mistakes, failing to pay attention and keep on task, not listening, being unable to follow or understand instructions, being distracted, fidgeting, squirming, getting up often when seated, running, talking excessively, having trouble playing quietly, and interrupting

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder, also known as ADHA, is a disorder that causes difficulties in sustaining attention and/ or hyperactivity impulsivity in children, adolescents, and some cases untreated adults (Gustafsson, Holmstrom, Besjakov, & Karlsson, 2010). A child with ADHD may show signs of restlessness, easily distracted, difficulty with organization, being physically active, and many more. ADHD has become a development disorder for many because many of the symptoms can cause behavioral, educational, and social problems for the child.

There are multiple signs and symptoms for ADHD. Common signs and symptoms of ADHD can be hyperactivity, inattention, distractibility, fidgets, excessive movement, impulsivity, and disorganized. Just because a child shows some of these symptoms, or even all of them, does not diagnose him with ADHD. The symptoms can show up at any age. Some parents notice a few or many of these symptoms as early as 3 or 4 years old. Diagnosis can be made all the way into adulthood.

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

ADHD is a brain disorder which is seen in both children and adults and is manifested by difficulties in attention, and hyper-active impulsive tendencies. Previously, DSM-IV used a 18-item list to determine presence of symptoms with the presence of 6 or more, having persisted at least 6 months being the criteria for diagnosis (DSM-IV, 1994). DSM-V has retained this 18-item list, but has lowered the threshold for requirement in those over the age of 17 from 6 to 5 (DSM-V, 2013). The new changes are also reflected in an increase of age-of-onset criteria from 7 years to 12 years (DSM-V, 2013). In addition, for DSM-V, requirements of symptom effects on daily life has been relaxed, making it easier for patients to meet a full-diagnostic criteria

The symptoms of ADHD can vary amongst the individual or age. Research indicates the core childhood symptoms shift with developmental ages. Symptoms in children may manifest as early as infancy. Children will have difficult temperaments, negative moods, high activity levels, and irregular sleeping and eating habits. Toddler age children will begin to demonstrate more behavioral problems, over activity difficulty toileting and over impulsivity. A preschool student may exhibit poor concentration, high activity level and impulsiveness. In the classroom, student may be overly active, unable to stay in seat, does not adhere to directions talkative, calls out, slow with the completion of work, and is easily frustrated. Although high supervision and

ADHD is a very broad disorder and covers a variety of symptoms. Inattention symptoms are different than hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms. Also, ADHD has subtypes which are Predominately Inattentive (ADHD-I), Predominately Hyperactive/Impulsive (ADHD-HI) and Combined (ADHD-C). Mostly before a child can be diagnosed with ADHD several symptoms have to be present before the age of 12.

The current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), now in its 5th edition, defines attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as persistent cycles of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that inhibit an individual’s ability to function or interferes with their development (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Inattention is said to manifest though behaviours such as wandering off and difficulty in maintaining focus. Hyperactivity on the other hand, manifests in an extreme relentlessness at a given activity, or persisting with an activity to the extent that it wears out others. To be diagnosed with ADHD according to the DSM-5, six or more symptoms must be met in regarding inattention and or

Several researchers have estimated that Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder effects between 5 and 10% of school aged children (Aguiar, Eubig, & Schantz, 2010; Modesto-Lowe, Danforth, & Brooks, 2008; Schroeder & Kelley, 2009). It is the most frequently diagnosed childhood neurobehavioral disorder (Aguiar, Eubig, & Schantz, 2010). Students with ADHD exhibit developmentally inappropriate levels of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention (Modesto-Lowe, Danforth, & Brooks, 2008). Typically, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) is used to diagnose ADHD. The DSM-IV classifies ADHD into 3 subtypes: predominately inattentive (ADHD-PI); predominately hyperactive-impulsive (ADHD-PH); and combined (ADHD-C)

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a common mental disorder whose definition continues to change. Most clinicians make a diagnosis off of a list of symptoms in three categories: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. There are three different subtypes of ADHD: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Combined Type if both the inattentive criteria and the hyperactive/impulsive criteria have been present for the past six months; Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominantly Inattentive Type if the inattention criteria are met but the hyperactive/impulsive criteria has not been present for the past six months; and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive

These categories allow for three types of diagnoses: ADHD combined type (ADHD/C), ADHD predominantly inattentive type(ADHD/I), and ADHD predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type (Castellanos & Tannock 2002). In the second article, ADHD Combined Type and ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Type Are Distinct and Unrelated Disorders by Richard Milich et al, Milch et al argues whether ADHD Inattentive type (ADHD/I) should be a subtype of ADHD as defined in the DSM IV or should it be given it’s own separate and distinct disorder. He concluded that the evidence showed that ADHD/C and ADHD/I are distinct and unrelated disorders with no defining features in common (Milich et al). Symptoms of ADHD/I included “sluggishness”, “hypoactivity”, “daydreaming”, and “lost in space”. Whereas symptoms of ADHD/C included “disinhibited”, “hyperactive”, and

Children with ADHD may be hyperactive and unable control their impulses. Or they may have trouble paying attention. These behaviors interfere with school and home life.