ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) KIM CARR

"Let me see if Philip can Be a little gentleman; Let me see if he is able To sit still for once at table." Thus spoke, in earnest tone, The father to his son; And the mother looked very grave To see Philip so misbehave. But Philip he did not mind His father who was so kind. He wriggled And giggled, And then, I declare, Swung backward and forward And tilted his chair, Just like any rocking horse;- "Philip! I am getting cross!" The Story of Fidgety Philip by Heinrich Hoffmann

See the naughty, restless child, Growing still more rude and wild, Till his chair falls over quite. Philip screams with all his might, Catches at the cloth, but then That makes matters worse again. Down upon the ground they fall, Glasses, bread, knives forks and all. How Mamma did fret and frown, When she saw them tumbling down! And Papa made such a face! Philip is in sad disgrace.

Where is Philip? Where is he? Fairly cover'd up, you see! Cloth and all are lying on him; He has pull'd down all upon him! What a terrible to-do! Dishes, glasses, snapt in two! Here a knife, and ther fork! Philip, this is naughty work. Table all so bare, and ah! Poor Papa and poor Mamma Look quite cross, and wonder how They shall make their dinner now

What is ADHD Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood behavioral disorder Neurology disorder that affects the brain ADHD is a diagnosis that is made for children and adults who display certain behaviors over an extended period of time. It can change the way children act, think, and feel.

ADHD AND THE BRAIN The biological roots of ADHD may involve certain areas of the brain, specifically the frontal cortex and nearby regions.frontal cortex

Major characteristics of people with ADHD ADHD is broken down into three subtypes, each with its own pattern of behaviors: 1. an inattentive type, with signs that include: iinability to pay attention to details or a tendency to make careless errors in schoolwork or other activities ddifficulty with sustained attention in tasks or play activities aapparent listening problems ddifficulty following instructions pproblems with organization aavoidance or dislike of tasks that require mental effort ttendency to lose things like toys, notebooks, or homework ddistractibility fforgetfulness in daily activities

Major characteristic of person with disability 2. a hyperactive-impulsive type, with signs that include:  fidgeting or squirming  difficulty remaining seated  excessive running or climbing  difficulty playing quietly  always seeming to be "on the go"  excessive talking  blurting out answers before hearing the full question  difficulty waiting for a turn or in line  problems with interrupting or intruding 3. a combined type, which involves a combination of the other two types and is the most common

Etiology  ADHD has biological origins that aren't yet clearly understood.  No single cause has been identified,  Research has links smoking during pregnancy  Other risk factors such as premature delivery  very low birth weight,  injuries to the brain at birth.

Prevalence  Affecting approximately 3–7% of school-age children representing up to two million children  Boy are identified more than girls  Boys tend to exhibit more hyperactive type  Girls tend to exhibit more inattentive type  On average, at least one child in each public and private classroom in the United States has ADHD

Diagnosis of ADHD  There is no test that can determine the presence of ADHD, a diagnosis depends on a complete evaluation  To be considered for a diagnosis of ADHD: a child must display behaviors from one of the three subtypes before age 7 these behaviors must be more severe than in other kids the same age the behaviors must last for at least 6 months the behaviors must occur in and negatively affect at least two areas of a child's life (such as school, home, day-care settings, or friendships)

Diagnosis of ADHD  Can be assessed by Pediatrician refer the family to a mental health specialist with experience in childhood mental disorders  Look at other factors Has any medical conditions or medical problems that affect thinking and behavior Has any learning disabilities Has been sudden change, such as the death of a family member, a divorce, or parent’s job loss

Treatment ADHD can't be cured, but it can be successfully managed. In most cases, ADHD is best treated with a combination of medication and behavior modification and parental counseling Medication does not cure can help a child pay attention and complete schoolwork

Accommodations Posting daily schedules and assignments Calling attention to schedule changes and modifications Structure – setting aside specific times for specific tasks Breaking up assignments into smaller chunks Frequent rewards and consequences for behavior Providing frequent breaks Pairing verbal and visual information while learning Allowing extra time to take a test Allowing tests to be taken in a quieter environment

Transition into Adulthood Research shows that ADHD symptoms do change with age Hyperactivity and impulsivity decrease with age While inattention increases In adolescence, ADHD is generally associated with cognitive deficits

Transition into Adulthood Also in adolescent ADHD is associated with increased rates of other psychiatric problems such as depression; anxiety; oppositional behaviors such as arguing, losing one's temper and being easily annoyed; and conduct disorders like vandalism and truancy.

Transition into Adulthood Some children with ADHD continue to have it as adults. Can’t get organized Daily tasks May seem restless Prefer “quick fixes,” rather than taking the steps Diagnosis is different in adults Childhood history of behavior and school experiences Interview family and friends Given a physical exam

References KidsHealth from Nemours. What is ADHD? Retrieved from The Medical News. (January 23, 2008) UCLA study questions diagnosis, medical treatment of ADHD. Retrieved from medical.net/news/2008/01/23/34668.aspxhttp:// medical.net/news/2008/01/23/34668.aspx National Institute of Mental Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Attention Deficit Disorder. Retrieved from disorder/adhd_booklet.pdf disorder/adhd_booklet.pdf AnswersTV (March 04, 2008). ADHD and the Brain [Video File]. Video posted to: Fluffythecat (July 02, 2006). Kinderen voor Kinderen song - ADHD [Video File]. Video posted to: Hallahan, D.P., Kauffman, J.M. & Pullen, P.C., (2009). Exceptional Learners: Introduction to Special Education (11 th Ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon

Assessment Case Study  Eight-year-old Jon will be taking the Stanford 9 for the first time. During an IEP meeting his teacher expressed concern to the multidisciplinary team that because of his hyperactivity and distractibility, he will be unable to work continually for the length of the typical time it takes to complete the test which is about 40 minutes.  You are member on the team and have to make 3 recommendations on how to accommodate Jon for this test. List the recommendations and write the basis for the them.