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Symptom Presentation For Children : Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( Adhd ) Essay

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Symptom Presentation for ADHD in Girls
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder prevalent among 5% of all children that affects their behavior, concentration, or academic functioning (Comer, 2016, p.477-479). An individual with a neurodevelopmental disorder is affected by a “group of disabilities in the functioning of the brain that emerge early on during birth or early childhood,” which can significantly impact his or her life into adulthood (cite). Most of the research to date suggests that ADHD has a higher prevalence in males, with 70% of boys diagnosed with ADHD before 12 years of age (APA, 2013, Menkangas et al., 2001, p. 480). DSM-5 specifies that symptoms must be present in two settings, symptoms such as difficulty and inattention to tasks, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The disorder is characterized by persistent behavior that they have difficulty concentrating, excessive talking, easily distracted, disorganized, overly active and act on impulsive behavior, which symptoms often feed off on one another (Comer, 2016, p. 480). However, studies conducted on symptom presentation of ADHD in females have shown that girls have a different symptom presentation for ADHD and are often undiagnosed or overlooked by clinicians. Moreover, girls are as equally prevalent to ADHD but differ in symptom presentation which makes diagnosis difficult to identify during early childhood. In fact, some girls do not display characteristics or deviant

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