Children with Adhd
Student Professor English 101 18 Aug. 2009 Children with ADHD ADHD may not make someone look different on the surface, but one can see it plainly if they know what behavior traits to look for. ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is one of the most commonly diagnosed chronic psychiatric conditions among children and is based on such behavioral criteria as impulsivity, hyperactivity, inattention and or learning disabilities (Curbing Impulsivity). It is the single most common learning and behavioral problem in children, it is estimated that nearly 2 million children in the United States are affected by this disorder (U.S. Dept of Health). While the number of children diagnosed with ADHD increases dramatically every year, there is still much about the disorder that is not understood. Many parents and professionals use the terms ADD and ADHD interchangeably, however in 1994, the American Psychiatric Association renamed ADD to ADHD (Barkley 25). Understanding ADHD is extremely important, as it can contribute to problems at home and school, and affect a child’s ability to learn and get along with others socially. ADHD is the preferred term because it describes three primary aspects of the behavior; inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive. The second most common type of ADHD is inattentive. A short attention span is the hallmark symptom of this disorder. “Unfortunately, many of these children never get diagnosed. Instead they are labeled slow, lazy, spacey,or unmotivated” (Amen 93). There is a list of symptoms of inattention in the DSM-IV, the diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association. Personswho qualify for a diagnosis of ADHD have at least six of these symptoms and suffer significant impairment as a result: Often children with this type have severe problems paying close attention to details, or make careless mistakes in schoolwork, or other activities. They are usually distracted by an overstimulation
Cited: American Psychiatric Association. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition, Text Revision, Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press Washington DC, 2001. Barkley, Russell, PH.D., ADHD and the Nature of Self-Control Barkley, Russell, PH.D., Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Handbook for Diagnosis and Treatment. New York, Guilford Press, 1998. “Curbing Impulsivity in Children with ADHD,” Science News; Science Daily, 5 Mar 2008 Overcoming ADHD: And coming into your own. American Academy of Pediatrics: Healthy Children, Back to School 2008 Issue. Vitality Communications, Greensboro, NC, 2008. Turecki, Stanley, MD, _The Difficult Child, _New York, Bantam Books, 2000