Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Mark C. Giesler
University of Dayton
Due to Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder not being recognized as a disability under IDEA, there is no legal or federal definition to reference. However, the most commonly used definition comes from the American Psychiatric Association, which states “The essential feature of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. (APA, 2013)” In order to be classified as having this disorder, there has to be three characteristics shown. These characteristics are persistency, frequency, and severance of the essential features. The American Psychological Association also states that these symptoms must be present for at least 6 months, and before the age of 12. There are many life factors that could spark symptoms of AD/HD for short periods of time such as peer influences and tragic events, which is why guidelines must be met in order to be classified.
The prevalence of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is rather interesting and is very spread out amongst genders and ethnic groups. It is estimated that between 3 to 5% of children that attend school suffer from AD/HD (APA, 2000), and 1.35 to 2.25 million children are suspected of struggling with AD/HD (Turnbell et al., 1995). This ultimately categorizes as one of the most occurring forms of exceptionality. When it
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder has a complicated and interesting history and because of that it is important to understands this disorders implications and comorbidity to better treat and diagnose it. Research done by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that 11% of the US population between the ages of 4-17 are affected with ADHD; that’s 6.4 million children and the prevalence of diagnosis is only increasing (2016). It was generally assumed that ADHD was something children would grow out of but new studies show that approximately 4% of the adult population in the US are still suffering from ADHD or have developed ADHD (Breyer, J. L., Lee, S., Winters, K. C., August, G. J., & Realmuto, G. M. 2014). ADHD is
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly found disorder in children in the United States. Statistics show that the male to female ratio for children with ADHD is eight to one. 4.4 million Children between the ages four to seventeen have diagnosed with ADHD (Cheng Tina L et al.). African American children are at a higher risk for having ADHD. Caucasian children are least likely to have ADHD. 2.5 million children receive medication for ADHD, but African American children are half as likely as Caucasian children to take ADHD medication(Cheng Tina L et al.). If African American children do not take medication for ADHD the child will most likely do drugs, drop out of school, or find it harder to receive a job when they get older. There is not cure for children who have ADHD, but there is medication children can take to decrease their hyperactive and impulsive symptoms. Adderall, Methylin, Concerta, and Focalin are some of the medications given for children who have ADHD. Methylphenidate is the most common medication prescribed by physicians for ADHD. “Methylphenidate takes effects within fifteen minutes of taking it and lasts between four and twelve hours a day.” (Hughes, Katsiyannis, and Ryan). Although medication is out there for the children to take, some of the medication given haves negative side effects. ADHD is not preventable. Parents should not only avoid drinking, smoking, or doing any other type of drugs to prevent ADHD, but also to prevent
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD which is often referred to as childhood hyperactivity, it 's a severe and chronic disorder for children. It is one of the most prevalent childhood disorders, and affects 3% to 5% of the school-age population. Boys outnumber girls three or more to one. Children with ADHD can experience many behavioral difficulties that often manifest in the form of inattention, being easily distracted, being impulsive, and hyperactivity. As a result, children with ADHD may develop emotional, social, developmental, academic, and family problems because of the frustrations and problems they are constantly experiencing. (Shea)
It is estimated that roughly 11% of children and 4.1% of adults are diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This is a 40% jump in diagnoses in the past decade. Stimulants such as amphetamines are prescribed to treat ADHD to increase focus and as college students are becoming more overwhelmed by workloads, stimulants are becoming very commonly abused to make it through an all-night study session. Because of this there are several instances of students exaggerating symptoms in order to receive the prescription they desire to improve in their classes. Many people believe that ADHD is becoming over diagnosed and in most cases it is simply kids being kids or stress-induced distractibility. This paper will address the idea presented by Dr. Richard Saul in his book ADHD Does Not Exist that Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has become an easy diagnosis with an easy treatment, however ADHD is not the disorder, it is the symptom of various other physiological and psychological disorders that have been misdiagnosed.
According to the Mayo Clinic, 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. This paper will seek to define and dissect ADHD from a clinical standpoint in such a way as to maintain a clear understanding for the layman to grasp its complexities and challenges. There are a number of sub-types of ADHD to date today affecting boys, girls, men and women of all ages, ethnicities and social groups with well over 6 million children throughout the United States alone having been diagnosed with the condition. This disorder has been well documented since the late 1700s and has, since then, left those in the field of psychology continuing to learn about the disorder. While ADHD is a relatively well known disorder, there exists a rampant misunderstanding of the condition mainly concerning diagnosis, prevalence, causes, symptoms, challenges, and treatment possibilities which urges the critical need for the public to be educated properly about exactly what this disorder is all about as well as the variety of options available for families, teachers, therapists and individuals struggling with ADHD.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a highly controversial disease. In the past and even today ADHD has been extremely overdiagnosed in youth. There are many reasons why this disease is so frequently improperly diagnosed. In previous editions of the DSM, criteria for diagnosing ADHD was exponentially less than the criteria in the DSM-5. This caused diagnosis of the disease to be more frequent. On top of having little criteria for diagnosis, pharmaceutical companies have promoted drugs for the disease more
Attention Deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopment psychiatric disorder which affects the executive functions of the body. For many people suffering from the disorder, they have issues with paying attention to a particular issue for a long period. They also exhibit signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness which is not in line with an individual’s age (NIH, 2014). The symptoms of the disease normally occur in the children aged between six to twelve and have to persist for approximately six months for a diagnosis to be made. Many school going children that suffer from ADHD develop symptoms such as lack of attention which normally lead to poor performance in their tests and exams. Many people do not know the implications of having ADHD and for some the cases go undetected for a long period (ADHD Health, n.d). There are those individuals that do not suffer from the disease but since the medication enables one to have more concentration on an issue, they abuse the drug for their benefits. Before I was diagnosed with the disease, my parents could not understand my poor performance and I could not understand why it was so hard for me to concentrate in class no matter how hard I tried. The dismal results that I continued to display in school and lack of attention even when I was at home made my parents take me to the hospital for tests that indicated that I suffer from ADHD. For me, I did not quite understand how this happened but I was put on medication that
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) would be a very interesting area of research. I find this topic interesting because there are so many people that still believe that ADHD is a made up disorder and that the real problem is a lack of good parenting skills. I have several people in my life that are affected by ADHD. I have found that despite copious amounts of research into effective treatments, it is still difficult to find a healthcare provider with accurate information on the subject. The problem with misinformation is also common in school teachers who are in a position to recognize the problem in their students before the parents. In the research study conducted by Sciutto et al (2015), researchers found that several misconceptions were common throughout the world about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of ADHD. Misconceptions about symptoms or causes can lead to a reduction in recognition and diagnosis of the disorder. Without a diagnosis, it is unlikely that treatment would be sought. Misconceptions about treatments can delay or prevent proper treatment. Lack of treatment could lead to an increase in anxiety and depression symptoms in both the child and the parent. Comorbid symptoms of depression and anxiety are very common for people diagnosed with ADHD (nimh.nih.gov).
Eisenberg & Esser 1997; Moghadm & Fagan, 1994 have stated ADHD has gone through a series of names since it was first documented in 1845 including “restless syndrome,” “minimal brain dysfunction,” and “hyperkinetic reaction disorder.” “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has become the most widely diagnosed psychiatric condition among children in the United States (Glass, 2001).” The CDC’s website digs deep for evidence being presented while gaining emotional appeal for its credibility as a government agency.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be described as a disorder that affects the central nervous system (CNS). At the current time, the cause of ADHD is still unknown (Mohammadi & Akhondzadeh, 2007). It is considered one of the greatest prevalent chronic health disorders that affect children (ages less than or equal to 17) and rates continue to rise (Mohammadi & Akhondzadeh, 2007). Presently, ADHD has been medically managed by two categories of medications which can be classified as stimulants or nonstimulants. According to the Texas Children’s Medication Algorithm Project (CMAP) (2007) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2015), stimulants continue to be first line choice in treating ADHD and show a
Every day I walk into a room full of young students eager to learn and explore the world around them, and yet I know for some of them their ability to focus in a large classroom setting prevents them from succeeding. I watch them struggle to maintain focus while listening to instruction, and I see their overactive minds tap-tap-tapping away in their own world during independent work time. These students suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD. In attempts to better understand and serve the students I work with my research and subsequent paper will focus around the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, specifically as they occur within children 5-14 years old, as well as an examination on the variety of treatments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms. Ultimately, concluding that children in school should be required to pursue some form of treatment for their Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms in order to improve their learning in the classroom. Of the 86 students that I service, I have nine students who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and only six of those students are receiving medication. The statistics of my classroom closely reflect the national averages for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder diagnosis and treatment. The National Survey of
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder also called (ADHD) is the most common complex behavioral disorder among children, affecting approximately 5% to 10% of the population worldwide (Rosenblum, Frisch, Deutsh- Castel, and Josman, 2015). The earliest age to get your child diagnosed is at age four. Many parents have children that are very active when they are toddler and in preschool, and automatically thing their child has ADHD when actually the child is just acting as a normal toddler and preschooler would. This disorder does affect families and cause a lot of conflict in the home. ADHD includes three subtypes: Primarily inattentive, hyperactive impulsive, and combined (Felt and Biermann, 2014). Primarily Inattentive is
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental disorder, is becoming more and more predominant every year throughout the entire world. It is one of the most common disorders that today’s children have. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Rates of ADHD diagnosis increased an average of 3% per year from 1997 to 2006 and an average of approximately 5% per year from 2003 to 2011,” which illustrates that this disorder is becoming a common one to diagnose (CDC, 2015). These percentages prove that ADHD is recognized and treated more than it was a few years ago. Now that children are being diagnosed, doctors, parents, and educators can make the necessary changes to positively affect the child’s daily life.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is described as the most common neurobehavioral condition of childhood. We raise the concern that ADHD is not a disease, but rather a group of symptoms representing a final common behavioral pathway for a gamut of emotional, psychological, and/or learning problems (J Child Neurol 2005). ADHD starts in childhood, there are several different requirements symptoms to be present before the age of 12 years old. These symptoms must take place in more than one setting; examples are as follows school, work, and home. To confirm the ADHD symptoms, settings typically cannot be done accurately without consulting the person who has notice the individual in
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a condition causing constant inattention, hyperactivity and (or) impulsivity. Attention deficit disorder, or ADD, is a condition of attention deficit in individuals. The main difference between them is that patients suffering from ADHD are usually hyperactive whereas ADD patients, on the contrary, remain shy and day dreamy. Both terms may be used interchangeably in conversations, for instance. However ADHD is an official term used by the American Psychiatric Association. One of its types - Predominantly Inattentive - is referred to as ADD. So, in order to avoid nimiety, ADD/ADHD is hereinafter referred to as ADHD.