Attention Deficit/Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Hyperactivity

DisorderDisorder

Attention Deficit/Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Hyperactivity

DisorderDisorder DEFINITION:DEFINITION:

The essential feature of Attention- Deficit/ The essential feature of Attention- Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder is a persistent pattern of Hyperactivity Disorder is a persistent pattern of

inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequently displayed and severe than is more frequently displayed and severe than is

typically observed in individuals at a comparable typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development. level of development.

(APA 2000)(APA 2000)

Prevalence• Approximately 3 to 7 % of school aged

children have AD/HD• Identification increasing dramatically• Ratio of boys to girls is 9 to 3• DSM- IV 55% combination type, 27%

inattentive type, 18% hyperactive-impulsive type

• Vast majority are European American

CharacteristicsThree Subtypes:Predominantly Inattentive TypePredominantly Hyperactive-

Impulsive TypeCombined Type

AD/HD Subtypes Characteristics

Predominantly Inattentive Type•Have trouble paying attention in class•Are often forgetful•Easily distracted•Appear lethargic, apathetic, or hypoactive•Internally rather than externally focused•Symptoms may appear later in theses students (8-12 yrs)

Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type•Can not seem to sit still•Often talk excessively•Have difficulty playing quietly•Have more difficulty with bedwetting, sleep problems,Stubbornness, and temper tantrums

Combined Type•Have features of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity•85 percent of students with AD/HD fall into this category

Myths About Causes• Research has discounted many

environmental explanations including myths such as:

too much or too little sugar, aspartame, food sensitivity, food additives, lack of vitamins, television, video games, yeast, lightning, fluorescent lighting and allergies

Causes

Biological Explanations:• Certain teratogens increase the likelihood that a child will

develop AD/HD (such as maternal smoking and alcohol or drug abuse, poor nutrition, and the mother’s exposure to chemicals, as well as blood pressure, age, and length of pregnancy)

• Postnatal trauma such as brain injuries, infections, iron deficiency, and exposure to chemical poisons also increase the probability that a child will develop AD/HD

• Brain research is also now revealing that AD/HD appears to be a result from failure in the part of the brain controlling inhibition and self control

• Researchers believe 80% of differences between students with and without AD/HD have a genetic explaination

Strategies for Teaching Students with AD/HD

Classroom setup• Seat students in rows not tables• Keep student away from distracting areas such as

windows, doors, and pencil sharpeners, also away from teacher’s desk if students will be coming up to it to ask questions

• Avoid using distracting bulletin boards or mobiles• The teacher should place themselves in an area where

all students can make eye contact• An area where medication can be taken discretely may

also be a necessity

Individual Work• Highlight important areas such as

directions, color attracts attention• Emphasize quality of work not

quantity to increase motivation and concentration rather than rushing

• Keep individual work periods short for elementary, no longer than 15 to 20 minutes followed by a break

Teaching Instruction• Incorporate all three types of learning

including auditory visual and kinesthetic methods

• Use varied and interesting tasks• Vary tone and infliction• Use a secret signal with students who

blurt out questions• Allow for extra time to assist students

with AD/HD

Video

Keeping Kids Healthy: How to cope with ADHD