ADHD Flashcards
What are some sources of school failure?
- Health issues
- Emotional issues
- Learning issues
- Attention issues
- try to distinguish where coming from – cognitive ability specific to subject? auditory or visual? Emotional changes? Etc.
What are the risks to untreated adhd?
cascade of negative consequences: poor self esteem –> poor academic performance –> risk taking, substance abuse, etc. –> poor employment options, poor health outcomes, poor relationships
3 characteristicsof adhd
- inattentiveness
- hyperactivity
- impulsivity
Definition / diagnostic criteriaADHD
Interferes w/functioning across settings: home, school, work
- Behaviors > signifcant than peers
- Triad of behaviors beyond range of accepted for “normal”
- At least 6 months
- Symptoms before 12 years of age
Neurobiology: structural differences associated w/adhd
Chronic neurobehavioral disordersmaller frontal lobes
Neurobiology: functional differences associated w/adhd
•Lower blood flow•Response to meds
* Alteration of neurochemical transmissionChronic neurobehavioral disorder
ADHD: genetics vs environment
•Very high incidence in twin studies•75% variance in phenotype is genetic, not environmental
Specific genes associated with adhd
•Dopamine receptor gene–Cognition, memory, exploratory behaviors•Dopamine transport gene–Site of action of stimulants•Similar genes linked to other mental health issues
prenatal/parinatal factors associated with adhd
- Pregnancy complications
- Prematurity/SGA
- Hypoxemia
- Hypoperfusion:– low cerebral blood flow associated with increased dopamine receptor availability in adols with ADHD
- Maternal smoking
psychosocial factors associated with adhd
- Maternal depression
* parenting skills/stress
biologicfactors associated with adhd
- Lead exposure: even low lead levels showed hyperactivity in preschoolers
- Iron deficiency
- Obstructive sleep apnea
dietfactors associated with adhd
- food additives
- sugar
- may be triggers in genetically susceptible child - make better or worse
prevalence of adhd in u.s.
~11%
Preschool age: prevalence, type, male vs femaleadhd
- Prevalence: 2-5%
- Type: 48% hyperactive/impulsive
- 1:1 female to male
School age: prevalence, type, male vs femaleadhd
- Prevalence: 3-11%
- Type: many combined, many inattentive/impulsive
- 1:4 female to male
High School age: type,diagnosisadhd
- Type: more inattentive, esp girls
* Diagnosis: ?? other DOs- ODD, CD, “adolescence”, also difficulty w/APA criteria (before 12y)
Characteristics of inattentiveness in ADHD
- Easily distracted
- Poor listening skills
- Poor attention to details
- Forgetful
- Disorganized
- Poor sustained attention to play or tasks
- Fewer activities requiring sustained attention
- Loses items
- Needs redirection
Characteristics of hyperactivity in ADHD
Most troublesome for preschoolers/early school age
- “On the go”, “Driven by a motor”
- Driven to interact with the environment (restlessness in adolescents)
- Unable to remain seated, even briefly
- Difficulty settling to play
- Fidgety
- Excessive talking
Characteristics of impulsivity in ADHD
Takes risks Disregards physical boundaries Unable to cooperate with peers or adults Interrupts Difficulty waiting turns Unable to delay gratification, even briefly
Characteristics of preschoolers w/ADHD
- Lack of rhythmicity
- Poor adaptability
- Sleep disturbances
- Moodiness/irritability
- Demanding of attention
- Slower language development
Preschoolers: behavioral risks associated w/adhd
- Poor impulse control
- Expelled from preschool settings
- More disruptive
- Less cooperative
- Less opportunity to develop social skills
- Increased risk of injury
Preschoolers: Social risks associated w/adhd
- Problematic parent/child relationship
- Family stress
- Limited activities /experiences
- Focus on discipline
- Poor social skill development
- 89% - significant impairment in at least one relationship
Intrusive, in your face, no boundaries, first in line, taking turns, sharing
Preschoolers: academic risks associated w/adhd
- Poor pre-academic skill development
- Delayed emergent literacy
- Parents don’t extend and expand language
- Disrupted phonological awareness
- Lower scores
- Working memory
- Planning
- Cognitive flexibility
Preschoolers: comorbidities associated w/adhd
- 35-50% Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- 15% Anxiety
- 13% Depression
- 19% >1 comorbidity
Challenges to diagnosing adhd in preschoolers
high energy level:may be nl
- non-compliant behavior
- day-to-day variability in behavior
- situational response to environment
- Neurologic immaturity
- Child-environment mismatch
Adult expectations of behavior:may be unrealistic for age
Co-morbidity:e.g., dvptl problems
General Characteristics of adhd in school-age children
Issues with peers
- Emotionally immature
- Prefer younger children or adults
- Emotional lability
- Procrastination
- Disorganization
- Distractibility
Characteristics of adhd in EARLY school-age childrenboys vs girls
Boys: high activity levelGirls: “good”, no trouble
Characteristics of adhd in LATER school-age childrenboys vs girls
Boys: increasing oppositional behaviorGirls: more social, talkative
risks forschool-age child with adhd
- Family stress
- Family relationships
- Social issues
- Academics
challenges in diagnosis of adhd in school age children
- Normal development
- Learning disabilities
- Medical issues
- Comorbidities
Course of adhd in adolescents
Previously
- Maturational lag
- Outgrown in adolescence
Currently
- 65% persist with symptoms at least into adolescence, often adulthood
- Some not diagnosed until adolescence
Characteristics of adhd in adolescents
- Hyperactivity declines
- Inattentiveness more obvious
School struggles - Multiple teachers
- Multiple expectations
Cognitive demands increase
- Memory
- Higher level thinking
- Independence expected
Comorbidities associated withadhd in adolescents
ODD, anxiety, depression, substance abuse DO, personality DO, learning disabilities**
Characteristics suggestive of ODD or conduct DO in adolescents
- Argumentative
- Negative
- Easily frustrated
- Conflicts at school
- School refusal
Characteristics suggestive of anxiety in adolescents
- Restlessness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
Characteristics suggestive of depression in adolescents
- Social isolation
- Irritability
- Boredom
- Reckless behavior
- Academic underachievement
Principles of assessment of adhd
- Multiple sources
- Good tools
- Recurring themes
- Connections to school and life outside of school
- Profile of strengths and weaknesses
Components of ADHD assessment: History
History
Past medical
- Birth
- Chronic illness
- Acute illness
- Trauma
- Development
Social history
- Family stressors
- Out-of-home care
- Family structure
Family Medical
- Genetics
- Sibs, cousins
Components of ADHD assessment: PE
- Affect/emotional response
- Dysmorphic features
- Behavior
- Communication skill
Components of ADHD assessment: Medical Screenings (as indicated)
- Sensory
- Lead
- Iron
- Thyroid
Components of ADHD assessment: Developmental / neurodevelopmental screening
- Language/linguistics
- Memory
- Personal-social
- Motor
Why are parent interviews important in adhd?
- Home less structured
Different expectations - Appropriate
- Inappropriate
Unaware of full range of behaviors
- School behavior
- Social interactions
What to look for in interview w/preschool teacher: adhd
- Normative perspective
* Structured and unstructured samples of behavior
Important concepts w/elementary/HSteacher interview: adhd
- May have no knowledge of outside classroom behavior
- poor interrater reliability amongteachers
- Parent-teacher agreement =74%
Characteristics of students perspectives on adhd symptoms
- Under report symptoms
* Under rate level of impairment
Who should be involved in adolescent interviews for adhd and why?
- Adolescent alone
* Confidentiality
* Concerns
- Perception of school and family issues
Sensitive topics - Use of ETOH, drugs
- Driving habits
2. Parents alone - Perceptions of issues
- Contact with school
- Approaches tried
- Expectations from evaluation
3. Adolescent and parents together - Shared concerns?
Rating scales in adhd: why, disadvantes, types
Attempt to objectify behavior
Some normed to age and gender
Impressionistic, subjective
Some specific to ADHD, others to range of emotional/behavioral problems
Specific provider rating tools for adhd, recommended
Vanderbilt (AAP)
- ADHD
- Comorbidities
- Connors
- McCarney (ADDES) short / long forms
- Brown ADD Diagnostic Form for Adolescents – Revised
Self-assessment tools for adhd
Pediatric Symptom Checklist
ANSER Self-Report ( >9 years)
Brown ADD Scales for Adolescents
Conners-Wells Adolescent Self Report Scale