Attention Deficit Disorder
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is commonly known as a childhood syndrome characterized by impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and a short attention span. These often lead to learning disabilities and various behavioral problems. ADD is defined as an inability to control behavior due to difficulty in processing neural stimuli.
Most of the diagnosis is at childhood. Experts say that over 2 million children have ADD. About 50% of these 2 million children who have ADD are believed to be underachievers. Also with this 50% the children who have ADD are believed to be to have social and academic difficulties. About 40% of the 2 million have a 40% IQ
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In order for an individual to be diagnosed with ADD, comprehensive evaluations must be administered that include a complete individual and family history, ability tests, achievement tests, and the collection of observations from people who are close to the person who is being assessed. It is also extremely important to have an assessment that is individualized and designed to uncover co-existing conditions, such as learning disabilities and behavior, mood or anxiety disorders (such as depression, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder) or any other problem that could be causing symptoms that look similar to the symptoms of ADD.
A thorough evaluation includes gathering information from a variety of sources. A thorough review of the person's medical, academic and family history is essential. In the case of a child this is done through a detailed, structured interview with the parents. Behavior rating scales should be filled out by parents, and teachers to provide information on types and severity of ADD symptoms at home and at school, as well as types and severity of other emotional or behavior problems. Depression, anxiety and other emotional disorders are tested through a comprehensive psychological screening. Intellectual and achievement testing is used to help screen for and then assess learning problems, and areas of strength and greatest struggle.
Researchers have identified classroom
With the plethora of websites that are full of valuable and interesting information and insight into this topic of ADD/ADHD, it can be difficult to determine an ideal website. One excellent website in particular is the Mayo Clinic website. According to their website, “Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life.” (Mayoclinic.org, 2014)”. The mission of Mayo Clinic is the aim to contribute to health and well-being by providing the best care to every patient through integrated clinical practice, education and research. Based in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic is the first and
Young children do not have the ability to adequately how they are feeling and the symptoms they are experiencing, so a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD is based on symptoms described by parents and teachers.
“Attention Deficit Disorder” is a mental disorder which affects individuals’ movements, behavior, and focus. Thereby, it is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity such happens in academic, occupational or social settings.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder in which people have trouble focusing. Individuals are generally abnormally hyper and have a hard time keeping still. Along with that they have a tendency to be impulsive and so may at times act on the hyperactivity. For example a college student suffering from it may have a hard
"Hyperactivity with ADD, without treatment, often results in failure, rejection by peers and family turmoil, all of which can lead to developmental delays and psychiatric complications stemming from low self-esteem and frustration" (Jerry M. Weiner, M.D., Pres. Amer. Academy of Ch. & Adol. Psychiatry)
What is the common environment of children being diagnosed with ADD? Do most children being diagnosed with ADD come from a home or attend school in a strict and structured environment? Are they "just being kids" when they are daydreaming or fidgeting or do they really have a problem that warrants treatment or medication? Many of the children being diagnosed are from the upper class or live in the suburbs so it seems that the
Children with either ADD or ADHD generally exhibit inattentiveness in school and in social situations; they may act erratically, and often
Experts at the National Institute of Mental Health, estimate that ADHD affects 3 to 5 percent of school age children and two to three times as many boys as girls. One child in a classroom of 20, is affected. This is not an epidemic, however the media likes to sensationalize ADHD, as if it were. If one person in a family is diagnosed with ADD, there is about a 25 percent probability that another person in the family also has some form of Attention Deficit Disorder". (Peter Jaksa, Ph.D.)
ADD and ADHD can also be looked at as developmental disorders. This is because some children seem to outgrow these conditions as they get older. These people were sometimes labeled underachievers when they were young, and now classified late bloomers since they have outgrown their disorders.
Approximately 3-5% of all American children have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). ADD is a leading cause of school failure and under-achievement. ADD characteristics often arise in early childhood. As many as 50% of children with ADD are never diagnosed. Boys significantly outnumber girls, though girls are more likely to be undiagnosed with ADD. ADD is not an attention disorder, but a disorder of impulse control (Pfiffrer 184).
It can be difficult and very frustrating not being able to comprehend or understand things that seem so simple to most other people. Following simple directions, trouble understanding a story, hard time staying organized, constantly late, forgetting things, can’t sit still through a lecture, daydreaming, unable to focus completely on a certain subject or task, not able to finish tasks in school or everyday situations pretty much sums up a person that may be struggling with ADD.
Sadly, a lot of many children who may have ADHD/ADD are not given the services they are supposed to receive, and parents are many of times don’t know what type of assistance
The National Institute of Mental Health (2016) describes Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as a neurodevelopment disorder that has an effect on someone 's functioning or development. ADHD affects the way someone functions because of the chronic conditions of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. However, it is possible that while some people with this neurodevelopment disorder experience both hyperactivity and inattention, that others may only experience one of the behaviors. Although Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD) is not a term used in the medical field anymore, I will still explain the difference. ADD is a type of ADHD that is also a brain disorder that has an effect on someone 's functioning, but without the hyperactivity or impulsivity behaviors (Kinman, 2015). When a student has the symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity associated with ADHD and ADD, then it may cause learning challenges in the classroom that will impact their academic success. Therefore, it is crucial for teachers to know and understand how to identify ADHD in their students, what to do when they suspect that one of their students may have ADHD, and what teaching strategies will be beneficial to that student.
The 4 components of a diagnostic evaluation include detailed history, physical exam, developmental evaluation, and use of ASD-Specific Tools, (Cdc.gov, 2017).
Further, it is integral in development of a treatment plan for patients that some form of assessment be made which deal with individual issues. An example of this is the diagnosis and screening for the delay and developmental disorders such as speech, autism, language and behavioral disorders, etc. Assessments allow psychologists to make recommendations to clients or families about appropriate approaches and promote an ongoing assessment and the evaluation of the person 's progress (Balkin & Juhnke, 2013).