(AD/HD) Unspecified Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder
ADHD is a chronic neurological condition characterized by (1) inattention, (2) impulsiveness, and (3) hyperactivity. Inattention refers to the child’s inability to concentrate on a task. Impulsiveness is the tendency to respond quickly without thinking through the consequences of an action. Hyperactivity refers to behavior that is described as a constant, driving motor activity in which a child races from one endeavor or interest to another. Many individuals with ADHD show problems in each of these areas, but some will have only one or two of these behaviors (Silver, 2006; Ellison, 2006).
Children with ADHD have difficulty staying on task, focusing attention, and completing their work. Roughly one half of all children with ADHD have a co-occurring learning disability. They are easily distracted, rushing from one idea or interest to another, and they may produce work that is sloppy and carelessly executed. They give the impression that they are not listening or have not heard what they have been told. Children with ADHD have attention problems, impulsive behavior, and problems with hyperactivity. They often display symptoms of age-inappropriate behavior.
Warning Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of ADHD change at different stages of life. Young children, elementary-age children, adolescents, and adults tend to exhibit different sets of behaviors.
Young children with AD/HD
- May exhibit excessive gross-motor activity, such as running or climbing.
- They are described as being “on the go,” “running like a motor,” and having difficulty sitting still.
- They may be unable to sit still for more than a few minutes at a time before beginning to wriggle excessively. (It is the quality of the motor behavior that distinguishes this disorder from ordinary overactivity because hyperactivity tends to be haphazard and poorly organized. For example, 4-year-old Jerry, who has ADHD, grabs a toy from another child, and he hits the child if the toy is not given to him.)
Elementary-age children with AD/HD
- May be extremely restless and fidgety.
- They are likely to talk too much in class and may constantly fight with friends, siblings, and classmates. (For example, 8-year-old Sarah always blurts out the answer without raising her hand or waiting to be recognized.)
Adolescents with AD/HD
Hyperactivity may diminish, but other symptoms may appear, such as:
- Behavioral problems,
- Low self-esteem,
- Inattentiveness,
- Depression. (For example, 13-year-old Lorraine has such low self-esteem that she believes even her imaginary friend is too busy to talk to her.)
Adults with ADHD
- Often have organizational problems,
- Social relationship difficulties,
- Job problems. (For example, 27-year-old Joshua cannot keep a job because he does not follow through in completing job assignments.)
ADHD affects children in all environments and in all ethnic and language groups, disrupting the child’s home life, education, behavior, and social life. At home, children with ADHD have difficulty accommodating home routines and parental expectations. They may resist going to bed, refuse to eat, or break toys during play. At school, they have trouble completing their class work, often missing valuable information because of their attention problems. They speak aloud out of turn and find themselves in trouble for their behavior. Their social interactions may be undermined by their impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention, which hamper their ability to make and keep friends (Lavoie, 2006). In terms of gender, more boys than girls are diagnosed with ADHD. However, research suggests that the prevalence rate is equal for boys and girls, but boys are more likely to be identified. This gender difference may due to the fact that boys are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior (Shaywitz, Fletcher, & Shaywitz, 1995).
An assessment is a necessary step before decisions can be made about treatment and eligibility for services. The diagnosis of ADHD is usually based on the observation of behaviors. The criteria for these behaviors are described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Revised (DSM-IV-TR) (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).
Lerner, Janet. Learning Disabilities: Theories, Diagnosis, and Teaching Strategies, 11th Edition (Boston, 2009) buy the book here
