What is Attention Deficit Disorder?

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) occurs in 3 to 5% of children. It is characterized by inattentiveness, restlessness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. These symptoms are disruptive and create social and/or environmental problems for the child. This disorder is much more common in boys than girls. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder has been defined as developmentally inappropriate impulsivity and inattention with or without hyperactivity. Symptoms begin before the age of 7. It includes the following symptoms: The child

• Often fidgets with hands or feet, or squirms in seat.
• Has difficulty remaining seated when required.
• Is easily distracted by extraneous stimuli.
• Has difficulty waiting for a turn.
• Often blurts out answers to questions before completed.
• Has difficulty following through instructions from others.
• Has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities.
• Has difficulty playing quietly.
• Often shifts from one incomplete activity to another.
• Often talks excessively.
• Often interrupts others.
• Often does not seem to listen to what is being said.
• Often loses things such as homework or items needed for tests or activities at school or home.
• At times engages in physically dangerous activities without considering the consequences.

Other features may include the following:

• Peer relationship problems.
  
• Ability to attend to interesting or reinforcing activities that are chosen by the child, such as television.
  
• Responsiveness to immediate tangible reinforcement.
  
• Negative interaction/relationships with authority figures.
  
• Sleep disturbance.
  
• Physical problems including higher injury risk and motor coordination problems.
  
• Aggressive and/or antisocial behavior.
  

Treatment

With the appropriate treatment, ADHD children can function with much less, possibly even no, hyperactivity, distractibility or impulsivity. Treatment approaches include:

• School consultation to improve management of academic challenges
  
• Behavior modification programs
  
• Medication
  
• Social skills training groups
  
• Parent coaching
  
• Tutoring
  
• Psychotherapy

The most effective comprehensive treatment program combines medication with additional structure in the academic and home environments.

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© 2008 Neuropsychology Associates, P.C., Phoenix, Arizona,
Dr. H. Daniel Blackwood and Dr. Jennifer T. Gatt

 

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