ADHD was first described by Dr. Heinrich Hoffman in 1845. A physician who wrote books on medicine and psychiatry, Dr. Hoffman was also a poet who became interested in writing for children when he couldn’t find suitable materials to read to His 3-year-old son. The result was a book of poems, complete with illustrations, about children and their characteristics. “The Story of Fidgety Philip” was an accurate description of a little boy who had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Yet it was not until 1902 that Sir George F. Still published a series of lectures to the Royal College of Physicians in England n which he described a group of impulsive children with significant behavioral problems, caused by a genetic dysfunction and not by poor child rearing-children who today would be easily recognized as having ADHD. (Still,1902). Since then, several thousand scientific papers on the disorder have been published, providing information on its nature, course, causes, impairments and treatments. A child with ADHD faces a difficult but not insurmountable task ahead.
In order to achieve his or her full potential, he or she should receive help, guidance, and understanding from parents, guidance counselors, and the public education system. This document offers information on ADHD and its management, including research on medications and behavioral interventions, as well as helpful resources on educational options. Several studies done in recent years estimate that between 30 percent and 70 percent of children with ADHD continue to exhibit symptoms in the adult years. Silver,2000) One of the more serious childhood problems is attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD affects 4 to 6 percent of all children. In the United States, approximately 2 million children have it. In a classroom of 25 to 30 children are likely to have ADHD (Stock, 1994). While attention span is not as visible as hyperactivity or impulsivity, it is usually the symptoms of ADD which cause the most problems in school.
A child with attention/hyperactivity disorder, predominantly inattention exhibits at least six of the ten characteristics. Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in school work * Has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or during play * Does not seem to listen * Does not follow through with directions or fails to finish chores, schoolwork * Has difficulty organizing tasks * Avoids engaging in tasks that require mental effort Loses things necessary for tasks * Easily distracted * Forgetful in daily activities A child with ADHD is constantly moving and usually cannot concentrate.
Hyperactive children always seem to be “on the go” (Stock, 1994). She or he talks rapidly, rarely finishes work, acts on impulsive and cannot pay attention. It affects 4 to 6 percent of all children. Five times as many boys as girls have it. Unless carefully managed. Not all children are naturally rambunctious or extraordinarily curious have ADHD. A high level of frustration causes ADD people to be impatient. Whatever is going on- they want it to go quickly and be finished.
ADHD can lead to school drop-outs and antisocial behavior (Hinshaw, 2002). Many people believe that hyperactive behavior is triggered by eating sugar. Sugary diets have no effect at all on the behavior. “Sugar- highs” is a myth (Wolraich, Wilson & White, 1995). A lot of children who have ADD, who are hyperactive, are described by their parents as hard to handle, stubborn, defiant. They such unusually high degree of not listening that they are regarded to having an additional disturbance, oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD). (Parker,1994).
Symptoms can be: * Lose temper * Argue with adults * Defy or refuse adult requests or rules Do things to annoy other, deliberately * Blame others for their own mistakes * Become angry or resentful * Spiteful or vindictive * Swear or use obscene language Children, who have ODD along with ADD, could show more of the ODD before they show the ADD symptoms. For example, they could be very angry on what you do with their food that they want to see that you have poured it in a bowl or a cup. Children with ADHD need help to be organized. Keeping them on a schedule helps. Having the same routine everyday, from wake-up to bedtime.
Although not all children are hyperactive, those who are cannot be missed. We are not talking about the typically restlessness or energetic behavior found in most young children. Hyper children show far greater amounts of restlessness and over activity, more than their non-hyperactive peers. Their impulsivity is reflected in their problem to control their emotions and behavior to a greater degree than other children their age. A child with ADD is like a speeding bullet, everywhere at once, and nowhere for very long. They are always touching something, darting about, never satisfied, and never sticking with one thing for very long.
Some of symptoms are: Hyperactivity * Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat Leaves seat in classroom or in other situations, in which being seated is expected * Runs around or climbs in situations where it is inappropriate * Difficulty playing or engaging in activities quietly * Is “on the go” as if “driven by a motor” (Parker, 1994) * Talks excessively Impulsivity * Blurts out answers * Waiting in lines or turns in games * Interrupts or intrudes on others Causes of Attention Deficit Disorder Doctors think that food allergies play a role in causing hyperactivity in children.
Also the effects of fluorescent lighting, misalignment of the spine, problems with yeast infection, and inner ear disorders. Most accepted theory is that it is inherited neurobiological disorder. That ADD runs in the family. I think that is now the situation here. Families can have a child or two with ADD, and neither father nor mother has had ADD in their childhood. Problems with pregnancy or maybe a late pregnancy could be a factor in your child having ADD. Consulting a Physician A primary doctor can recommend a family who has certain symptoms showing in their child.
They get a medical and social history from the parents and child. Some results may alert the doctor as to when the symptoms first appeared. The doctor will spend a lot of time reviewing the hild’s genetic background, early birth history. May ask parents and teachers to evaluate the child’s behavior in different situations. (Parker, 1994). There are no specific laboratory tests to diagnose ADD. Such as chromosome studies, electroencephalograms (EEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computerized axial tomograms (CAT scans) are not used for evaluation of ADD.
Such procedures may be necessary if a genetic syndrome or other health problems could be present. Psychologist Psychologist’s play a big part in assessing the situation. They will determine if the child needs medication and therapy. The clinic or school psychologist is trained to do educational and psychology testing that can provide important information about the intellectual ability, reasoning skills, use of language, impulsiveness, attention span, and emotional functioning.
For children who have emotional problems, tests may be administered which are designed to evaluate how the child feels about him/herself and others. Test to measure self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and family stress. Medications There are different kinds of medications a doctor might put a child on for ADD: * Ritalin-(which is known for a lot of side affects) * Dexedrine Cylert * Tofranil * Norpramin * Catapress * Strattera-(the newest of medicines for ADHD) Parents must determine whether they feel comfortable giving their child medication.
Some parents feel that no medicine will fix what their child has. That it is a normal thing that they are going through. Most times we take medicine to cure a condition. With ADD, there is no medical cure. (Parker, 1994) Conclusion For many children and ADD and their families, psychological counseling is a necessary component of the treatment plan. Counselors can educate parents on issues of discipline, parent-child communications, school rogramming, and the just of medication. Counselors frequently encourage parent to attend support group meetings.
There are also books, audio and video tapes, newsletters, and magazines articles available to them and their child. The hyperactive child can benefit from counseling to help repair injured self-esteem, overcome feelings of demoralizations or depression. It is essential for parents and counselors to work together to find areas in which the child can excel. Summary I have learned from all this that children with ADHD can be helped with certain medicines and therapy. Another thing is that it is not caused rom food like a lot of people think it is.
Parents, who believe that they can handle this situation with no medicine, should rethink about it. There are a lot of children out there with ADHD and people think that they are just being kids. I have a personal experience with ADHD and ODD. I have had a hard time understanding what was wrong with my son. Thinking that he was just going through a phase at his age and one day I will wake up and he will be the way he used to be before all this happened. It is like walking on egg shell, until someone lets you know that it is not you doing anything wrong.