By Ji

What is ADHD ADHD is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors (may act without thinking about what the result will be), and in some cases, are overly active.

Three type of ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Type Having hard time in organization things or complete the task, with this type the person will found out that hard for them to follow the instruction or listening to the conversation.

Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type Having hard time in keep still and talk a lot, with the kids they will be jumping, running, or climbing. This type of ADHD can cause restless and impulsive

Combined type A person whose symptoms include all those of 1 and 2, and whose symptoms are equally predominant. In other words

Causes of ADHD In addition to genetics, scientists are studying other possible causes and risk factors including: Brain injury Environmental exposures (e.g., lead) Alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy Premature delivery Low birth weight

Diagnosis Deciding if a child has ADHD is a several step process. There is no single test to diagnose ADHD, and many other problems, like anxiety, depression, and certain types of learning disabilities, can have similar symptoms. One step of the process involves having a medical exam, including hearing and vision tests, to rule out other problems with symptoms like ADHD. Another part of the process may include a checklist for rating ADHD symptoms and taking a history of the child from parents, teachers, and sometimes, the child.

What are the general signs of ADHD in children? the child is restless, overactive, and fidgety the child is constantly chattering the child is continuously interrupting people the child cannot concentrate for long on specific tasks the child is inattentive the child finds it hard to wait his/her turn in play, conversations or standing in line (queue) The above signs may be observed in children frequently and usually do not mean the child has ADHD. It is when these signs become significantly more pronounced in one child, compared to other children of the same age, and when his/her behavior undermines his/her school and social life, that the child may have ADHD.

Treatment medication behavior intervention strategies parents training ADHD and classroom

Medicine Medication can help a child with ADHD in their everyday life and may be a valuable part of a child’s treatment. Medication is one option that may help better control some of the behavior problems. Several different types of medications may be used to treat ADHD Stimulants are the best-known and most widely used treatments. Between 70-80 percent of children with ADHD respond positively to these medications. Non-stimulants were approved for treating ADHD in 2003. This medication seems to have fewer side effects than stimulants and can last up to 24 hours.

behavior intervention strategies Create a routine. Try to follow the same schedule every day, from wake-up time to bedtime. Avoid distractions. Turn off the TV, radio, and computer, especially when your child is doing homework. Limit choices. Offer a choice between two things (this outfit, meal, toy, etc., or that one) so that your child isn't overwhelmed and overstimulated. Discipline effectively. Instead of yelling or spanking, use timeouts or removal of privileges as consequences for inappropriate behavior.

Parent Training Another important part of treatment for a child with ADHD is parent training. Children with ADHD may not respond to the usual parenting practices, so experts recommend parent education. This approach has been successful in educating parents on how to teach their kids about organization, develop problem-solving skills and cope with their ADHD symptoms. Parent training can be conducted in groups or with individual families and are offered by therapists or in special classes.

ADHD and the Classroom Just like with parent training, it is important for teachers to have the needed skills to help children manage their ADHD. However, since the majority of children with ADHD are not enrolled in special education classes, their teachers will most likely be regular education teachers who might know very little about ADHD and could benefit from assistance and guidance. For example Use a homework folder for parent-teacher communications Make assignments clear Give positive reinforcement Be sensitive to self-esteem issues Involve the school counselor or psychologist

Strategies for ADHD kids in the classroom Provide as much positive attention and recognition as possible. Clarify the social rules and external demands of the classroom. Establish a cue between teacher and child. Spend personal discussion times with these children emphasizing the similarities between the teacher and child. Distinguish between reality and fantasy by telling stories with a mix of fact and fiction and asking the children to critique them. Have children repeat questions before answering. Communicate the value of accuracy over speed.

Require that children keep a file of their completed work. Using the wall clock, tell children how long they are to work on an assignment. Do not confront lying by making children admit they have been untruthful. Assign a written project that is to contain elements that are "true," "could happen but didn’t," and "pretend, can’t happen."

References http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/adhd/ http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/learning/teacher.shtml