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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( Adhd )

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During the last year I often heard a Sunday school teacher say “they all have ADHD” when talking about her six-year old charges. She is neither a medical professional nor a teacher; she just thinks it is funny. In this paper I will study ADHD by examining its characteristics, diagnosis, risk factors, treatments and controversies and its functional consequences. I focus mostly on children since they are the heart of this course. Characteristics Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that impinges on the part of the brain “that monitors inhibition and self-control” (NASET, 2006/2007, p. 1) and affects roughly 5% of children and 2.5% of adults worldwide (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 61). …show more content…

59). Inattention is more prevalent in females than males and an inattentive child is often misdiagnosed because she is quiet and usually does not misbehave (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; NIMH, n.d, p.3). The second core symptom of ADHD is hyperactivity and refers to high levels of physical activity which makes a child seem to be is in perpetual motion. A child affected by hyperactivity might fidget and squirm incessantly; talk excessively; and touch everything in sight. The final core symptom of ADHD is impulsivity and refers to acting without forethought. A child with impulse control issues is often impatient; blurts out inappropriate comments; answers questions without waiting his turn; and interrupts conversations (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; NIMH, n.d.; NASET, 2006/2007; Santrock, 2013, p. 330). Based on these three core symptoms persons affected by ADHD are divided into three groups: “ADHD with predominantly inattention; ADHD with predominantly

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