ATTENTION DEFICIT

HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER
(ADHD)
Overview by Paul Markle
ADHD What is it?
A neurological disorder
Common disorder in children
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC),
Children with ADHD may have trouble paying
attention, controlling impulsive behaviors (may act
without thinking about what the result will be), or be
overly active.
Cannot be cured
Symptoms CAN be managed and improve over time
Three types see next slide
ADHD Three Types
Inattentive Type
Symptoms
Be easily distracted, miss details, forget things,
and frequently switch from one activity to
another
Have difficulty focusing on one thing
Become bored with a task after only a few
minutes, unless they are doing something
enjoyable
Have difficulty focusing attention on organizing
and completing a task or learning something
new
Have trouble completing or turning in
homework assignments, often losing things (e.g.,
pencils, toys, assignments) needed to complete
tasks or activities
Not seem to listen when spoken to
Daydream, become easily confused, and move
slowly
Have difficulty processing information as
quickly and accurately as others
Struggle to follow instructions.
Hyperactive-Impulsive Type
Symptoms
Fidget and squirm in their seats
Talk nonstop
Run around, touching or playing with
anything and everything in sight
Have trouble sitting still; constantly
moving
Find it challenging to do things quietly
Impatient; have difficulty taking turns
Blurt out inappropriate comments, show
their emotions without restraint, and act
out not caring what might happen
Often interrupt others (NIMH, 2012)
Combined Type
Symptoms fit into both types.
(NIMH, 2012)
ADHD What causes it?
Scientists still really don't know for sure what causes someone to have ADHD.
Here are some possible causes that scientists are exploring.

Genes. Genes are the traits you have that are passed down from parents
to child before the child is born.

Environmental Factors. These are things that may have happened while
the child was a baby in the womb or things they may have come in contact
with as a small child. Some things that we know are not safe for a
pregnant mother to do are smoke and drink alcohol. Lead found in old
pipes and old painted walls/paint can also be harmful to people. Also,
having a brain injury could cause someone's brain to work differently.
Premature delivery may be a contributing factor as well.

Some other things that scientists are even less sure about are whether
having too much food with sugar, food coloring, and preservatives causes
ADHD. Some also believe that watching too much TV as a young child can
cause ADHD. (NIMH, 2012)
Give me five!
Here are five facts about ADHD.
1. Most children diagnosed with ADHD are in the
Combined category, displaying six or more symptoms of
each type.
2. Boys are up to four times as likely to be diagnosed with
ADHD than girls.
3. According to the CDC, about 11% of American children
had been diagnosed with ADHD as of 2011.
4. States vary in rates of children that had been diagnosed
as of 2011 from 5.6% (Nevada) to 18.7% (Kentucky).
Pennsylvania = 11.2%
5. Each year between 1997 and 2011 saw an increase in
prevalence of diagnosis by about 3 to 5%.
Parents can support their child.
There are several things a parent can do to make living with ADHD a little
better for their child. Here are some examples.
Assist the child with keeping organized (backpack, planner, bedroom, etc.)

Write down reminders, and encourage them to do the same.

Check the backpack, and be involved in homework and studying.

Communicate with the childs teacher(s) regularly. Know the childs rights,
and be his or her advocate for a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
Work toward your child being more and more independent. Set 1-3 goals
for the child to work toward each month (no more, keep them simple). Keep
track, and celebrate meeting each goal.
Be consistent with rules and expectations.

Discuss medication with the childs doctor. Seek therapy options to help the
child cope with stress and work on deficits.
Talk about and demonstrate how to talk to others. Discuss ways that people
may respond, especially those that may be confusing to the child.
Teachers can support their student.
There are several things a teacher can do to make each school day a little
better for their student with ADHD. Here are some examples in addition to
ones that may apply to both parenting and educating.
Assign a seat away from distractions (window, door, pencil sharpener, etc.)
and nearest to where attention should be most often.
Repeat verbal directions and reminders to them. Demonstrate how to do
something, help them do it the first time, and then support them through it on
their own.
Write directions in a step-by-step way. Write down certain reminders, and
put the reminders where they will see them easily.
Cut tests, homework, and other assignments into smaller portions. Adapt
assessments in this way, even physically with lines drawn or paper to cover
up other sections to allow focus on one at a time. Maintain the same
method always to avoid confusion.
Allow extra time to complete assignments and assessments.

Allow for breaks (stretch breaks, walk breaks, etc.).

Resources
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). (n.d.). In National Institute
of Mental Health online. Retrieved from
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-
disorder-adhd/index.shtml.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Attention-Deficit/
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/.
Hasan, S. (2014). ADHD. In Teens Health online. Retrieved from
http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/learning/adhd.html#.
Segal, J. & Smith M. (2014). ADHD/ADD & school: Helping children with
ADHD succeed at school. In HelpGuide.org. Retrieved from
http://helpguide.org/articles/add-adhd/attention-deficit-disorder-adhd-
and-school.htm.
Schwartz, S. (2010). ADHD in middle school survival guide. In ADDitude:
Strategies and support for ADHD and LD online, Spring 2010. Retrieved
from http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/7100.html.