Essay about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

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.

Most people have heard of the term Attention Deficit Hyperactive (ADHD) disorder. "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobiological disorder that interferes with an individual's ability to attend to tasks (inattention), inhibits one's behavior (impulsivity), and may interfere with a person's ability to regulate one's activity level (hyper-activity) in developmentally appropriate ways (Barkley 19)". The most important job for teachers and parents is to separate fact from fiction, to clarify what we know and don't know.

In the psychiatric medical field, there is a book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM) that provides very specific guidelines on how to recognize, diagnose, and treat mental disorders. ADHD was first introduced to the DSM in 1980 when the DSM-II was published. Since then, three more DSM’s were published, making DSM-V the most up-to-date published manual. In the DSM-V, it describes “people with ADHD [must] show a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development” and a detailed list of criteria for either inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity follows (“Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)”). Also, everyone potential patient must present four specific conditions: they had to present the inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms prior to age twelve, the symptoms must be present in at least two different settings, the symptoms must impair the individual or evidently interfere with life, and the symptoms must not better fit any other mental disorder (“Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)”). Also, only professionals trained to diagnose ADHD are able to diagnose patients, therefore, eliminating any diagnostic errors attributed to a lack of

There are a couple of reasons why it is more difficult to diagnose an adult with ADHD than it is to identify a child with the same problem. One of the problems is that there is no real test for ADHD. Instead there are a series of evaluations that must be done that rule out other problems (2). The American Psychiatric Association describes the symptoms and criteria for diagnosing mental disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Information used to diagnose the condition includes: an interview with the person, medical history, to include asking about the social, emotional, educational, and behavioral history of the person, physical exam, behavior rating scales or checklists for ADHD to evaluate the person's symptoms.

ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder. ADHD is characterized by the inability to pay attention, extreme hyperactivity, impulsivity, difficulty controlling behavior, and not acting appropriate for the standards of one’s age. The cause of ADHD is unknown, however it is suggested that it is caused by certain environmental and genetic factors. ADHD is diagnosed using the criteria in the most recent DSM (The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders), the DSM-5. The DSM-5 lists out long term symptoms that may be indicative of ADHD, and the individual must meet at least six of these nine symptoms. The symptoms must have been present by the age of six to twelve, and must be present in more than one situation. The symptoms must cause social, work, or school problems, and must also not be normal for the age of the individual. ADHD can be treated with either therapy or psychoactive drugs, or a combination of the two.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is without a doubt one of the largest social problems facing the Baby Boomers in the 21st century. The last two to three decades have seen this disorder labeled many different titles. As stated by Donald J. Brown in his article Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), 1996: “What is apparent is that ADHD is a collection of symptoms or criteria.” Labeling a child as ADHD creates a large potential for error. The traditional approach of putting children on long-term usage of stimulants such as Ritalin, Centedrin, and Rubifen might allow a child to better concentrate because it somehow slows down the otherwise hyperactive student but it does nothing

From the day I entered kindergarten class at the age of five my accomplishments in school have been tainted by behavioral problems. Every week my mother would inevitably receive calls from teachers and principals complaining about my inattentiveness and hyperactivity in the classroom. I never had a problem with the work and I was always one of the smartest students in my class so my parents just assumed that I was a rambunctious child. My parents completely subscribed to the belief that “boys will be boys” and although I certainly was reprimanded for my behavior, the last thing to have crossed my parents’ mind was that this type of behavior was a symptom of a disorder. The disorder I am referring to is called Attention Deficit

As ADHD is categorized in neurodevelopmental disorders in the DSM-5, this psychiatric disorder involves selective impairment in relation to neurological

Among the behavioural disorders that are commonly diagnosed, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent among youth and children. It is a persistent disorder that is attributed to neurobehavioral problems. About 3%-5% of all the children in America are affected by ADHD (NINDS Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder Information Page, 2011). The disorder is characterized by inability to concentrate or focus on a task and exercise behavioural inhibition that is normally related to age. There are several warning signs which can indicate the possibility that a child may be affected by the disorder. These include difficulties adhering to instructions,

In order for children to be diagnosed with ADHD in their early childhood stages, it is necessary that the symptoms are not only seen at home, but also in other settings as well. For example, a child in school has fidgeting spells and has trouble staying focused; it is imperative for the teacher to notify the parents that it may be a good idea to get him/her some help. The diagnostic criterion one needs to meet in order for a doctor to declare that his/her patient has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is strictly followed for an accurate diagnosis. Thrapar and Cooper (2016) describe the difficulty of diagnosing ADHD stating that “This difficulty means that even with clear-cut diagnostic criteria, there is potential risk of over diagnosis and under diagnosis, which underscores the importance of careful and rigorous expert assessment.” Even in the surest of cases of ADHD, the doctor/ physician must follow procedural tests and observation in order to be able to declare a final diagnosis. When one is wrongly diagnosed with ADHD, the given medication to help

Psychologists and Psychiatrists have recognized several different types of ADHD. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), a tool commonly used by professionals to diagnose mental disorders, illustrates three patterns of behavior to note when

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder also most commonly known as ADHD is one of the most common disorders among children and young adults. It is not only the most common but is on the rise in the United States over the past decade. Many people turn to the internet to find answers on such a disorder as ADHD. However, one has to be careful in what they read, because some websites are not accurate and have lots of bias towards one thing or another dealing with the subject of ADHD. Everyday Health’s webpage on ADHD is a very informative source and well put together by using authority, coverage and objectivity.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition that affects millions of children and often continues into adulthood. ADHD includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, normally abbreviated as ADHD, is a disorder in which a person has trouble paying attention and focusing on tasks, tends to act without thinking and has trouble sitting still. This condition may begin in early childhood and continue into adulthood. Without treatment ADHD can cause problems at home, school, work and any social gatherings.

“Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition affecting children and adults that is characterized by problems with attention, impulsivity, and overactivity” (CHADD). “It is a neurobiological disorder that affect 3-7 percent of school age children and may be seen as before the age of 7. The current diagnostic label is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, however, in the past several other names have been used, such as brain-damaged, minimal brain dysfunction, hyperkinetic impulsive disorder, and attention deficit disorder (CHADD). ADHD is a controversial disorder. Some understand it to be a true disability, while others believe “good teaching and discipline at home resolve the problems” (Kauffman 2005).