Attention Deficity Hyperactivity Disorder Flashcards
What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD )
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is the term used to describe children whose ability to learn and profit from new experiences is impaired by their distractibility, impulsiveness, lack of concentration, restlessness, inappropriate talking and lack of
regard for inappropriate situations (DSM-III-R, 1987).
Two types of ADHD
Inattentive
hyperactive-impulsive
Symptoms of ADHD : Inattentive
Following symptoms
characterise a inattentive child:
Fail to close attention to details leading to careless mistake.
Having difficulty sustaining attention to tasks or to play activities.
Having difficulty in listening what is being said.
Having difficulty following through and completing homework assignments.
Having difficulty in organising tasks.
Avoiding tasks that require strenuous activity.
Losing materials that are necessary for the tasks they need to complete.
Easily distracted by extraneous activity.
Forgetting schedules for daily activities
Symptoms of hyperactive-impulsive ADHD
Hyperactive-impulsive children display excessive energy and are restless and agitated. They may show the following behaviours:
Fidgets and squirms in seat
Leaves desk or seat in the classroom at inappropriate times
Runs or climbs in situations when it is inappropriate
Avoids engaging in quiet leisure activities
Talks excessively
Blurts out answers impulsively, often before the question has been completed
Displays difficulty waiting in lines and taking turns
Butts into conversations or other people’s games, interrupting and intruding on
others.
Are symptoms enough to diagonize ADHD?
These symptoms must be persistent and extreme to the extent that the student cannot function adequately.
Causes(etiology) of ADHD:
It is viewed as a result of medical disorder rather than a pure behavioural problem.
The neurological causes may be related to the structure of the brain, chemical imbalances, some functions of the brain or combination of these and other factors.
Poor diet and poor parenting may underlie the disorder.
Sequence for assessing and identifying ADHD:
Following is one sequence for assessment and identification:
Administering and collecting rating scales from relevant persons
Orienting the family and the student to the evaluation
Interviewing the student
Administering standardised tests, such as IQ, achievement and continuous performance
Conducting direct observations in several settings including school, community and home if possible.
Interviewing the parents
Conducting a medical evaluation
Integrating all the data
Giving feedback and recommendations to the team
Programs for treatment and education of children with ADHD.
Remedial measures:
Medical management Psychological counseling Environment Educational planning Behavioral coaching
Medical management
Medical management: involvement of a physician who determines whether or not medication may be effective for controlling hyperactivity.
Psychological counseling
Psychological counseling helps the student understand and cope with ADHD and the negative effects that often result even before the problem is recognised. It is most effective when the child’s family is also involved.
Environment
The arrangement of the environment (classroom or school) in a manner that enhances the is student’s success. Teachers need to permit students to move when necessary and work where they can most effectively.
Educational planning
Educational planning accomplished most effectively by multidisciplinary team. Individualised education programs are designed to address the needs of the students with ADHD.
Behavioral coaching
Behaviour management instruction helps the child recognise behaviours that interfere with normal functioning. Behaviour modification techniques are used to encourage and organise activities appropriate in a situation.
