Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder ( Adhd ) Essay

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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

Over the past couple of decades there has been a huge increase in the diagnosis and prescriptions given out for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. “An article from prescription provider Express scripts, finds a large overall increase in the number of Americans treated for ADHD there was a 36 percent increase in just five years” (David Muzina, 2014). When statistics like this are seen it is only normal for someone to ask questions. People are becoming curious about the legitimacy of the disorder, and whether or not the treatments being given to the individual are appropriate. ADHD may seem controversial to many on whether it is real or not, and if treatment is the best option. The argument seems to be strong both sides of the fence, but the extensive research done on ADHD leaves it hard for one to believe that it is a made up disorder.

In 1998, the National Institutes of Mental Health agreed that attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is indeed a legitimate psychologic condition even though its definition has not been fully pinned down. ADHD is a syndrome generally characterized by the following symptoms that first occur before the age of seven:

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services throughout recent years the number of diagnosed cases of childhood ADHD has continued to increase from 7.8 % in 2003, to 9.5% in 2007, 11% in 2011 (US CDC Statistics, 2016) It is estimated now that there are nearly 7 million children throughout The United States of America that have been diagnosed with this disorder. This is a number that has grown rapidly over recent years due in part to the growing research and understanding of the condition and the evolving diagnostic criteria for diagnosis. The American Psychiatric Association currently defines Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as” a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development, has symptoms presenting in two or more settings (e.g. at home, school, or work; with friends or relatives; in other activities), and negatively impacts directly on social, academic or occupational functioning.” (DSM-V, 2013) With such a number of people effected by ADHD, it is surprising to see how uninformed, or at the very least, misinformed, the majority of the population remains concerning the disorder.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is on the rise. ADHD is classified as a neurological disorder that develops during childhood and can persist into adulthood. There has been conflicted arguments among Doctors, Scientist, Teachers and parents on the topic of ADHD. ADHD is starting to become one of the most diagnosed disorders among children. It is also said that over the past several years adult ADHD is more common. However, some children may not go on to have ADHD or the symptoms may change across the lifespan. My son Xander who is now 10 struggles daily with ADHD. Millions of people around the world suffer from ADHD both children and adults. Over the last decade, questions have risen in regards to ADHD. Is ADHD overdiagnosed? Is ADHD genetic? Is it only diagnosed in the United States? Can one grow out of ADHD? All these questions have several different answers depending on who you ask. However, this does not mean that ADHD doesn’t exist. Although ADHD does exist across the lifespan and is currently not curable, one should not give up the hope of ADHD being successfully managed throughout the lifespan so that they can live a normal life with academic success.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects about 5 percent of children and about half of them will carry those symptoms into adulthood. This NCIS episode I’m watching is amazing! Anyways back to ADHD.

ADHD is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is a condition affecting how children and adults pay attention or control impulsive behaviors. The symptoms of ADHD include forgetting or losing items, talking too much, making mistakes, and have difficulty sitting still. Most people are diagnosed with ADHD between four -seventeen years of age. ADHD can progress in to adult hood. Several steps must be taken to determine if a person has ADHD. Those steps include a through medical examination, and an inventory checklist were a parent or adult will rate ADHD symptoms. One diagnosis with ADHD most treatments opinion includes medication and behavioral therapy. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, retrieved 10/20/2016)

Although many more chronical illnesses are discussed in the DSM-V, one of the most recurrent ones, especially among children, is Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. ADHD, as it’s commonly known, is among few others, one of the most diagnosed mental disorders in the United States. Moreover, its prevalence is, by a great margin, high among males rather than females, and the usual identification age varies from the time in which children enter preschool to when they reach twelve years’ old (Ronald J. Comer). It is vital that symptoms for such disorder are identified correctly within a short time frame, for ADHD is known for stunting a child’s academic and behavioral development. For a successful ADHD diagnosis, several elements must be present, and prevalent in a child for at least six months. Such include, disorganized thoughts, feelings, or actions, inability to maintain attention, fails to carry out instructions or finish tasks, dislike or avoidance to perform mentally effortful work, excessive talk, constant movement and a recurrent pattern of disobedience, among others. At least six of these symptoms must be shown throughout a continuous period of six months or more in a manner that is maladaptive and beyond that shown by most similarly aged persons.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is diagnosed in children, especially boys, at a much higher rate than ever in the past. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016) state that since 2011, eleven percent (6.4 million) of children between the ages of four and seventeen have been diagnosed with ADHD (13.2 percent boys and 5.6 percent girls). Often, children with ADHD have problems with working memory, selective attention, and inhibition (Belsky, 2016, p.154). Also, children need special attention from teachers and parents to stay on track. In addition, ADHD youth have a harder time making and keeping friends. What are the reasons that these children struggle with cognitive learning and social relations and what can be done to help these children with ADHD?

Ritalin, the common name of the drug methylphenidate, is a a medication used to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and narcolepsy, a certain sleep disorder. It operates by changing the amounts of the natural substances in the brain stem arousal system and cortex and belongs to a class of drugs known as stimulants. Ritalin, classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration as a Schedule II narcotic, helps to increase the ability of a person to pay attention, to remain to focus on a specific activity, manage behavioral problems, organize task and improves listening skill (WebMD, 2015-2016). This drug has the same classification as morphine, cocaine, and amphetamines so it’s often abused by youngsters because of its powerful stimulant effects.

In an age where a college degree is becoming more of a necessity, the high stress levels and competitiveness experienced by students at colleges and universities can become to much to bare. In turn, certain individuals seek the help of study drugs, also known as nootropics, “refer to the out-of-accordance use of prescription stimulants like Ritalin, Vyvanse, and Adderall to increase mental focus when studying. These drugs are commonly prescribed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) patients and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD) patients. When used without a prescription, however, they can be dangerous. But despite the risks, 1 in 5 college students use study drugs to get a short-term energy boost to plow through the dreaded all-nighters” (“Study Drugs”).

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EEG- Based Assessment Aid (NEBA) system, a noninvasive scan that measures theta and beta brain

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.