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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD)

The document discusses Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD), including that it affects approximately 4-6% of the population, persists throughout life, and can impact work, family, and social relationships. Common symptoms include distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Research shows ADHD is likely caused by biological factors influencing neurotransmitters and genetics rather than poor parenting or diet.

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108 views

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD)

The document discusses Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD), including that it affects approximately 4-6% of the population, persists throughout life, and can impact work, family, and social relationships. Common symptoms include distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Research shows ADHD is likely caused by biological factors influencing neurotransmitters and genetics rather than poor parenting or diet.

Uploaded by

Anonymous sSR6x6VC8a
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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English for Psychology.

Course Unit I Attention and Perception


1.1. ADHD

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-
disorder/complete-index.shtml Booklet

http://www.add.org/?page=ADHD_Fact_Sheet ADHD Fact Sheet

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD)

Fact Sheet

Important Disclaimer - Please Read: As with all of the information found on


the ADDA website, the following is not intended to provide of professional advice
or diagnostic service. If you have any concerns about AD/HD or other health
issues, please consult a qualified health care professional in your community.

IS it ADD or ADHD? What is the difference?

The difference is mainly one of terminology, which can be confusing at


times. The "official" clinical diagnosis is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder, or AD/HD. In turn, AD/HD is broken down into three different
subtypes: Combined Type, Predominantly Inattentive Type, and
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type.

Many people use the term ADD as a generic term for all types of AD/HD.
The term ADD has gained popularity among the general public, in the
media, and is even commonly used among professionals. Whether we call it
ADD or AD/HD, however, we are all basically referring to the same thing.

Who has AD/HD?

According to epidemiological data, approximately 4% to 6% of the U.S.


population has ADHD. That is about 8 to 9 million adults. ADHD usually
persists throughout a person's lifetime. It is NOT limited to children.
Approximately one-half to two-thirds of children with ADHD will continue to
have significant problems with ADHD symptoms and behaviors as adults,
which impacts their lives on the job, within the family, and in social
relationships.

Definition of AD/HD

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English for Psychology. Course Unit I Attention and Perception
1.1. ADHD

AD/HD is a diagnosis applied to children and adults who consistently display


certain characteristic behaviors over a period of time. The most common
core features include:

Distractibility: poor sustained attention to tasks

Impulsivity: impaired impulse control and delay of gratification

Hyperactivity: excessive activity and physical restlessness

In order to meet diagnostic criteria, these behaviors must be excessive,


long-term, and pervasive. The behaviors must appear before age 7, and
continue for at least 6 months. A crucial consideration is that the behaviors
must create a real handicap in at least two areas of a person's life, such as
school, home, work, or social settings. These criteria set ADHD apart from
the "normal" distractibility and impulsive behavior of childhood or the
effects of the hectic and overstressed lifestyle prevalent in our society.

According to the DSM-IV (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental


Disorders, Fourth Edition), some common symptoms of ADHD include:

The patient often fails to give close attention to details or makes


careless mistakes.

The patient often has difficulty sustaining attention to tasks.

The patient often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.

The patient often fails to follow instructions carefully and completely.


The patient often loses or forgets important things.

The patient often feels restless, fidgeting with hands or feet, squirming,
running or climbing excessively.

The patient often talks excessively, blurts out answers before hearing
the whole question, and often has difficulty awaiting turn.

Please keep in mind that the exact nature and severity of AD/HD symptoms
varies from person to person. Approximately one-third of people with
AD/HD do not have the hyperactive or overactive behavior component, for
example.

What the research shows about the causes of AD/HD

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English for Psychology. Course Unit I Attention and Perception
1.1. ADHD

ADHD is not caused by poor parenting, family problems, poor teachers or


schools, too much TV, food allergies, or excess sugar. One early theory was
that attention disorders were caused by minor head injuries or damage to
the brain, and thus for many years ADHD was called "minimal brain
damage" or "minimal brain dysfunction." The vast majority of people with
ADHD have no history of head injury or evidence of brain damage, however.
Another theory, which is still heard in the media, is that refined sugar and
food additives make children hyperactive and inattentive. Scientists at the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) concluded that this may apply to only
about 5% of children with ADHD, mostly either very young children or
children with food allergies.

ADHD is very likely caused by biological factors which influence


neurotransmitter activity in certain parts of the brain, and which have a
strong genetic basis. Studies at NIMH using a PET (positron emission
tomography) scanner to observe the brain at work have shown a link
between a person's ability to pay continued attention and the level of
activity in the brain. Specifically, researchers measured the level of glucose
used by the areas of the brain that inhibit impulses and control attention. In
people with AD/HD, the brain areas that control attention used less glucose,
indicating that they were less active. It appears from this research that a
lower level of activity in some parts of the brain may cause inattention and
other AD/HD symptoms.

There is a great deal of evidence that AD/HD runs in families, which is


suggestive of genetic factors. If one person in a family is diagnosed with
AD/HD, there is a 25% to 35% probability that any other family member
also has AD/HD, compared to a 4% to 6% probability for someone in the
general population.

Treatment of AD/HD

Clinical experience has shown that the most effective treatment for AD/HD
is a combination of medication (when necessary), therapy or counseling to
learn coping skills and adaptive behaviors, and ADD coaching for adults.

Medication is often used to help normalize brain activity, as prescribed


by a physician. Stimulant medications (Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall, Adderall

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English for Psychology. Course Unit I Attention and Perception
1.1. ADHD

XR, Concerta, Vyvanse, and Focalin XR) are commonly used because they
have been shown to be most effective for most people with ADHD.
However, many other medications may also be used at the discretion of the
physician.

Behavior therapy and cognitive therapy are often helpful to modify


certain behaviors and to deal with the emotional effects of AD/HD. Many
adults also benefit from working with an AD/HD coach to help manage
problem behaviors and develop coping skills, such as improving
organizational skills and improving productivity.

ADHD is recognized as a disability under federal legislation (the


Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans with Disabilities Act; and the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). Appropriate and reasonable
accommodations are sometimes made at school for children with ADHD,
and in the workplace for adults with ADHD, which help the individual to
work more efficiently and productively.

1998, Peter Jaksa, Ph.D

Read the fact sheet about AD/HD and the do the following
exercises:
1. What types of AD/HD are commonly distinguished?
2. What areas of a persons life can be impacted by AD/HD
symptoms?
3. Some years ago you met Charles, a 5-year-old AD/HD patient.
Describe his abnormal behavior.
4. Discuss (briefly) the fallacious and proven causes of AD/HD.
5. Margaret is a 7-year-old girl suffering from AD/HD. Propose a
treatment for her.

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