...paper explores the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that can affect children and adults. ADHD in children can cause trouble with focus, patience, and over activity. ADHD is the most common childhood disorder and usually appear early in life often between the ages of 3 and 6. Children that are diagnosed with ADHD usually have problems at home, school and in their social life. ADHD symptoms fall into three categories: inattentive, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The American Academy of Pediatrics has guidelines to help diagnose ADHD. The child’s pediatrician may suggest a combination of medication and behavioral therapy as part of a total treatment. Education of the child’s family is an essential component of any treatment plan, which includes special education programs, psychological intervention and drug treatment. Diagnoses, treatment, keeping track of progress are the three phases of managing ADHD. Studies show that long-term treatment with a combination of medication and behavioral therapy is far superior to just medication treatment. ADHD has nothing to do with intelligence or talent. Many children with ADHD are intellectually or artistically gifted. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a chronic condition that can affect children and adults in so many different ways. Children with ADHD may have some problems...
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...ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is a very complex condition that generates a great deal of debate. The debate surrounding this disorder is intense. Debates encompass issues such as, what causes it, how to assess ADHD, and how to deal with it effectively. This essay deals with some of the debates in an attempt to simplify the issues. The first question that needs to be answered is what is ADHD? It is behavioural problems revolving around three main symptoms. One main symptom that an ADHD person displays is the inability to keep their attention focused on something. They are easily distracted, forget instructions and have a poor short term memory. The second main symptom prevalent among those with ADHD is their impulsiveness. They act or shout out inappropriately. They have a short fuse which can lead to temper tantrums. The third main symptom is that those with ADHD are hyperactive. They are unable to sit still and are often restless and fidgety. These factors usually cause problems within the sufferer’s families. ADHD symptoms also cause problems for the sufferer in educational settings, (for children) and in occupational settings, (for adults). There are three subtypes to ADHD. The first subtype is someone who is both hyperactive and impulsive. The second subtype is one who is inattentive only. For example, studies show that at least 40% of people with ADHD have the “Inattentive Type” only. The third subtype is one who shows all of these symptoms combined...
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...ADHD PSYCH 575 November 5, 2012 Dr. Rex Philpot PhD. ADHD During, childhood one of the most common neuropsychological and behavioral disorders affecting behaviors emerges in children and adults pertains to ADHD (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, pp. 64-65). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder disrupts the process of learning in children as well as others in the classroom, home, and the workplace. Often, children demonstrating these behaviors are impetuous and reckless thereby disruptive in activities at home, school, and play whereby hindering the child’s or adult’s abilities to learn and perform. This paper will provide an explication of ADHD and the common symptoms along with the rates of managing, and reducing the symptoms implemented in three treatments in methods selected in treating the disorder. Furthermore, an analysis will explicate the neurophysiological underpinnings, and contemporary attitudes of the selected interventions video games, family therapy, and Ritalin. Cause and characteristics of ADHD The symptoms of ADHD affect three to five percent of children in the United States that serves as the leading cause of underachievement as well as school failures (Parksepp, 1998). In the past the disorder incurred numerous labels “such as,” hyperkinetic reaction, hyperactive syndrome, attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, and a minimal dysfunction of the brain. Males “in contrast,” to females because of underdiagnosing are more likely to endure...
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...Is it Anxiety or ADHD? Are you feeling anxious or sad? Were you diagnosed with anxiety disorder or depression? Many people are seeking help for symptoms such as, sadness, restlessness, mood changes, low energy, insomnia, trouble waking, emotional, forgetful, and even job or relationship problems. The above symptoms can be caused by many psychiatric disorders. Many physicians are diagnosing these people with depression or anxiety and throwing them anti-depressants and sending them on their way. What if the medication does not work? I want to make sure nobody goes years and years like I did trying every anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medication out there with no relief. They may very well have those disorders, but is there an underlying cause? What if the root cause is ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)? My essay is on ADHD and how it is being overlooked and going undiagnosed/misdiagnosed in most adults. I am also exploring the questions, is it Anxiety or ADHD? What came first? The ADHD or the Anxiety? Did the ADHD cause the other disorders? What can be done to inform people about ADHD and that it is not just a childhood disorder? The sources I chose to do my research were from ADHD websites that do lots of research on the subject and also from a very informative booklet from an ADHD class my psychologist took. There was so much great information from these sources that it was very difficult for me to choose what to include in this essay. I gathered lots of facts...
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...Over-prescribing of ADHD Medication to Children Lesley M. Thomas University of Houston- Clear Lake What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? According to the National Library of Medicine, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is defined as, “a problem of not being able to focus, being overactive, not being able to control behavior, or a combination of these.” (www.nlm.nih.gov) For a diagnosis of this disorder, generally referred to simply as ADHD, these issues must be out of the normal range for a person’s age and development. Although the majority of diagnoses are given to children and adolescents, there are also a vast number of ADHD cases diagnosed for adults. The purpose of my research paper is to offer background on this disorder, discuss the psychopharmacology of its treatment options, and to discuss whether ADHD medication is over-prescribed to children. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) states that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity has three different subtypes. Those subtypes are Predominantly Inattentive, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive, and a combination of the two. In order for the Predominantly Inattentive subtype to be used, at least six or more symptoms of inattention must be both present and persistent for at least six months. However, there must be fewer than six symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity. For usage of the Hyperactivity-Impulsivity subtype to be used, there must be a persistent presence of at least six symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity...
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...illness of ADHD (attention deficit disorder). In the first paragraph there will be a discussion on the history, including any myths or misconceptions of ADHD. In some of the other paragraph there will be a detailed discussion of the other points such as the neurotransmitters that are associated with this type of a illness. I will try to familiarize individuals as to how the environment in which they stay in will detract from a successful treatment of ADHD. In the final paragraph I will discuss how the treatments today of this illness compare to the diagnosis and treatments of the past. A list of the professionals involved in the treatment, diagnosis of ADHD will also be mentioned. Mental Illness Paper Attention deficit disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue on through adolescence and adulthood. Some symptoms may include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over- activity). ADHD is characterized by prominent symptoms of inattention and/ or hyperactivity and impulsivity. These symptoms can lead to difficulty in academic, emotional, and social functioning. Studies in the United States indicate approximately 8%- 10% of children satisfy diagnostic criteria for ADHD (ADHD, medicine.net). The term ADD was once used to describe children with these symptoms, but ADD is no longer a DSM diagnosis. A misconception surrounding ADHD is: ADHD...
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...AND ADHD AMANDA WENTZEL COLUMBIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY Abstract ADHD also known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that is near to my heart. My 15 year old daughter was diagnosed with ADHD at age 6. We have struggled with this since day one. I have researched ADHD, the protocol for diagnosing ADHD, coping with ADHD and of course treatment methods for ADHD. It has came to my attention that ADHD is becoming diagnosed more frequently and that children are sometimes misdiagnosed with ADHD and subsequently treated for the condition and it may be unnecessary. ADHD is becoming common yet the diagnosing method is pretty vague and the medications for this are sometimes harmful if not needed. There are other forms of treatments and there are also coping skills and lifestyle changes that can be beneficial for those who have ADHD and their families. I researched some of these other methods and the facts on ADHD. I have found some interesting information that I hope will help others that deal with this diagnosis. This paper states actual facts and it is my intention to help others understand ADHD and know the facts surrounding the diagnosis and treatments. People are becoming more and more familiar with ADHD and it seems to be being diagnosed more frequently. First things first, what is ADHD? ADHD is abbreviated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is diagnosed by symptoms. One of those symptoms is...
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...Disorder Abstract Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder is one of the most common disorders diagnosed among children. This research paper will discuss causes, symptoms, recent studies, and treatment for ADHD and how to manage it. The main problem that most people have about the disorder is their lack of awareness, and education. ADHD is the grouping of many symptoms and causes many children, as well as adults, to struggle in areas of school, work, and in their personal lives. Finding these symptoms based on these causes is vital in finding out whether or not a child has ADHD. The handling of a child with this disorder can affect him/her in the moment as well as down the road. Patience is a key factor in being able to raise a child with ADHD along with support, concern, and adaption. This paper will talk about the different treatment types and different positive reinforcements needed to help the child adapt to ADHD, and fit in with their peers. With improved education, awareness and ability to maintain Attention Deficit/ Hyperactive disorder, the easier it will be to help get children and adults through the disorder’s constraints and allow them to have a normal life. Everyone remembers the one child in class that is constantly acting out and never stops talking but what most people do not understand is why. ADHD affects many children around the world. This disorder is defined as an attentional disorder involving distractibility, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior...
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...Instructor: Natasha Brown Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood brain disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over- activity). These symptoms can make it difficult for a child with ADHD to succeed in school, get along with other children or adults, or finish tasks at home. Brain imaging studies have revealed that, in youth with ADHD, the brain matures in a normal pattern but is delayed, on average, by about 3 years. The delay is most pronounced in brain regions involved in thinking, paying attention, and planning. More recent studies have found that the outermost layer of the brain, the cortex, shows delayed maturation overall, and a brain structure important for proper communications between the two halves of the brain shows an abnormal growth pattern. These delays and abnormalities may underlie the hallmark symptoms of ADHD and help to explain how the disorder may develop. Treatments can relieve many symptoms of ADHD, but there is currently no cure for the disorder. With treatment, most people with ADHD can be successful in school and lead productive lives. Researchers are developing more effective treatments and interventions, and using new tools such as brain imaging, to better understand ADHD and to find more effective ways to treat and prevent it. Inattention...
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...What is Attention Deficiency Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? It is a disorder marked by extreme difficulty with inattention, impulsivity, or a combination of both. About 3% to 7% of children and teens have extreme difficulty controlling their attention and are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder, or ADHD (American psychiatric association [APA], 2000). ADHD is the most diagnosed neurodevelopment disorder in children. This condition is diagnosed much more often in boys than it is in girls. Symptoms cannot be cured but may decrease with age. Symptoms can be controlled with medications, such as Ritalin. Medications are thought to help regulate the behavior by altering the neural activity in the frontal-striated area of the brain, which ordinarily inhibits behavior. Research on the causes of ADHD are ongoing, because the condition is associated with a variety of different behaviors, there are likely to be a number of sources for these behaviors Symptoms of ADHD • forget or lose things a lot • squirm or fidget • talk too much • make careless mistakes or take unnecessary risks • have a hard time resisting temptation • have trouble taking turns • have difficulty getting along with others • daydream a lot The term Attention Deficiet Disorder (ADD) is no longer used, the condition is now called ADHD broken down to three different types of ADHD, depending on which types of symptoms are strongest in the individual: Predominantly Inattentive Presentation:...
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...Chris Phillips Professor Daniel Wesley English Composition II 1302-062 10 December 2012 ADD/ADHD: A Proposal I’m hesitant to write about ADD/ADHD. It just seems like two-faced ground. Judging by the comments I’ve read online, in magazines, and my own experience, expressing an opinion about this identification or anything dealing in child psychiatry will be met with censure from both sides. I was reading an article “Ritalin Gone Wild” in the New York Times, and I felt obliged to write. If you have not read “Ritalin Gone Wild”, I persuade you to do so. In my opinion, I agree with the article except for the mention about “children born into poverty therefore [being] more vulnerable to behavior problems”. Unsurprisingly, the article has fascinated many online detectors. Let us check out this response from the NYT, accusing Dr Sroufe for “blaming parents” for ADD/ADHD. When I read the original article, Dr Sroufe did not do that. Instead, he noted that ADD/ADHD symptoms may not or at all come from a congenital neurological defect or “chemical imbalance”, but that ecological influences may be more significant. He also says that, ADD/ADHD drugs do work; children and adults do perform better on meds, but the successes do fail over time, perhaps a drug answer does not change ecological situation in the first place. I could not agree more. I think this statement is true for much of what is treated in psychiatry; it is predominantly related to children and adolescents. Children...
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...Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a highly prevalent, neurobiological disorder which generally has an early onset of symptoms (Biederman, 2005). Children of both genders are affected and symptoms often persist into adolescence and adulthood. It often includes varying degrees of age-inappropriate behaviors such as impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity (Barkley, 2002). These behavior traits must be prominent enough to cause impairment in the individual’s functioning. ADHD is considered a developmentally relative deficit. This means that diagnosable ADHD cases are often the extreme cases of normal traits, or result from an abnormal delay in normal traits. Evidence exists that the disorder runs in families, and it is assumed to be heritable (Biederman, 2005). Polanczyk, Silva de Lima, Horta, Biederman, & Rohde (2007) point out that this disorder has become a major public health concern because of its prevalence, early onset, and the serious financial burden for both families and society, that is often associated with it. Common predicaments with ADHD include overdiagnosis, stimulant medications as treatment, and the issue regarding worldwide prevalence, namely, whether or not it is more common in the United States. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has been studied extensively, often with controversial findings, which implies that much more research is necessary. ADHD appears quite diverse over varying cases, but the general signs and symptoms are similar. Biederman...
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...UNDERSTANDING ADULT ADHD ALENE CAMP UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PRINCIPLES OF PSYCHOLOGY Orisade Awodola, M.A., Ph.D 06/04/2013 UNDERSTANDING ADULT ADHD TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………….…………………………3 DEFINITION OF ADHD…………………………………………………………………………4 SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSIS OF ADULT ADHD………………….………………………4 TREATMENT OF ADULT ADHD………………………………………………………………7 RECENT CHANGES AS DEFINED IN DSM V…………………………………….………….7 SUMMARY……………………………………………………………………………………….9 REFERENCES……………………..……………………………………………………………11 ABSTRACT Childhood ADHD receives a lot of media attention. From opinions of faulty diagnoses to general disagreements regarding types and amounts of medication used to treat the symptoms, there is a running dialogue in the media and annals of schools and homes. However, little is known about adult ADHD. This paper will analyze current research to glean a clear idea of what exactly is Adult ADHD, symptoms and prescribed treatments and will discuss current trends and changes in the field of psychology as it relates to ADHD. UNDERSTANDING ADULT ADHD Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been a topic of media, parents, educators and the community for years. Debates range from those curious about the actual definition of ADHD to those concerned with medications prescribed for its treatment. Primarily seen as a disorder that affects school aged children, little is known about ADHD as it progresses into...
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...ADHD Patients and Criminal Activity American Military University CMRJ303 Criminology January 15, 2013 Abstract Utilizing the research of Gudjonsson, Sigurdsson, Newton and Einarsson (2008), NIMH, (2008), Fletcher & Wolfe (2012), Babinski, Hartsouch, Lambert (1999), Jill and Page (2005) and Belluck (2012) this paper reflects the understanding of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and how it can be a contributing factor to crime. Keywords: ADHD, crime, criminal behavior, treatments, Crimes That Involve ADHD Patients Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is generally displayed through behavioral inhibitions. ADHD is an ever-growing problem within the United States and across the globe. Often time’s people don’t understand ADHD and how such a disorder can lead to criminal activity. Through understanding how ADHD consumes a persons life will demonstrate how this disorder plays a role in the minds of those that have committed crimes. ADHD is most often discovered in children and can continue into adolescence and adulthood. The main symptoms include difficulty maintaining a focused mindset and paying attention to specific tasks. Behavioral issues are often affected due to the difficulty controlling ones behavior. All these symptoms are then topped off with hyperactivity, or being over-active (NIMH, 2008). There are three known subtypes to ADHD. The subtypes are referred to as the following: Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive...
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...wrong with the child? The child may have Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. Within this paper the following questions will be answered, the definition of ADHD, the cause of ADHD, the symptoms of ADHD and if the symptoms differ in boys and girls, the different treatments for ADHD. Definition of ADHD If one has seen the children who cannot sit still, concentrate, or talks constantly and wonders if the child has ADHD then one needs to know the definition of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. According to Mayo Clinic (2009), the definition of "attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition that affects millions of children and often persists into adulthood. Problems associated with ADHD include inattention and hyperactive, impulsive behavior. Children with ADHD may struggle with low self-esteem, troubled relationships and poor performance in school" (Definition, para. 1). Within this clinics definition of ADHD there is an estimated three percent to five percent of children who are affected in the United States (Sharp & Odle, 2009). Causes of ADHD Parents of children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder often wonder if they caused their child to developed ADHD. The causes of ADHD are not known. However, it appears that heredity plays a major part in the development of ADHD. Children with a parent or sibling with ADHD are more likely to develop the disorder. Before birth, children...
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