Научная электронная библиотека
Монографии, изданные в издательстве Российской Академии Естествознания
What Is ADHD
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral and developmental disorder.
- ADHD usually becomes apparent during the preschool and early school years.
- Children with ADHD have difficulty paying attention and controlling their behavior.
- Some estimates show that between 3 and 5 percent of children have ADHD, or approximately 2 million children in the United States.
- Based on these estimates, at least one child in a classroom of 25 to 30 children is likely to have ADHD.
History of ADHD
Dr. Heinrich Hoffman in 1845 first described ADHD in a children’s book, The Story of Fidgety Philip, which contained an accurate description of a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
In 1902, Sir George F. Still provided the first clinical description of the disorder in a series of papers about a group of children who displayed impulsivity and behavior problems. According to Still, these symptoms were caused by a genetic dysfunction and not by poor parenting. Since that time, a wealth of research on the symptoms, causes and treatments for ADHD has been published.
There are three primary characteristics of ADHD:
1. Inattention
2. Hyperactivity
3. Impulsivity
The symptoms of ADHD usually appear in early childhood, but symptoms are often confused with other disorders or mistaken for normal childhood behaviors. In order for a child to receive appropriate intervention and treatment, it is important that a diagnosis is made by a well-qualified mental health professional.
Recognizing the Symptoms of ADHD
ADHD symptoms such as hyperactivity and impulsiveness tend to appear before inattentiveness. In many cases, symptoms only become apparent in specific situations. For example, a parent might not notice inattentive behavior because it does not cause major problems at home. However, inattentiveness will become more apparent when the child enters school and experiences academic difficulties due to inattentive behavior.
Hyperactivity and impulsivity draw greater notice because these symptoms lead to obvious behavioral problems and more disruptive behavior in school.
Most children display these behaviors at some point, but this behavior could be a sign of ADHD when hyperactivity, distractibility, poor concentration, or impulsivity negatively impact school performance, social functioning, or family life.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), there are three patterns of behavior that indicate ADHD:
1. Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type, who do not exhibit significant inattention.
2. Predominantly inattentive type, who do not show significant hyperactive-impulsive behavior, occasionally referred to as ADD.
3. Combined type, who display both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms.
Signs of Inattention in ADHD
Inattention is one of the aspects of ADHD that sometimes goes unnoticed. Symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsiveness are more obvious because they cause disruptions at home and school. Because inattentive behavior can lead to deficits in school, it is important to recognize these symptoms in order to obtain appropriate treatment.
Some inattentive behaviors that parents and teachers should look out for include:
- Failure to pay attention to details, often making careless mistakes on classwork.
- Difficulty paying attention to the task at hand or easily distracted by extraneous sights and sounds.
- Problems with organization and planning; may often lose items such as schoolwork, pens, books, or personal items.
- Skipping from one activity to the next without finishing previous tasks.
Identifying Inattention
Predominantly Inattentive ADHD can go unnoticed because children with this type of ADHD do not display behavior that is particularly disruptive. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, children with this type of ADHD rarely experience symptoms of impulsivity or hyperactivity. Often described as forgetful or sluggish, children experiencing symptoms of inattention need treatment just as much as those experiencing the more disrupting symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity.
How do you distinguish between normal childhood behavior and the symptoms of ADHD? According to the National Institute of Mental Health, children with ADHD may also experience some of the following symptoms of inattention:
Children who are inattentive have a hard time keeping their minds on any one thing and may get bored with a task after only a few minutes. If they are doing something they really enjoy, they have no trouble paying attention. But focusing deliberate, conscious attention to organizing and completing a task or learning something new is difficult.
Homework is particularly hard for these children. They will forget to write down an assignment, or leave it at school. They will forget to bring a book home, or bring the wrong one. The homework, if finally finished, is full of errors and erasures. Homework is often accompanied by frustration for both parent and child.
When children have problems at school or with their behavior, it is often suggested that they have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and that they should have further testing or evaluation.
These evaluations often begin with parenting and teacher checklists to see if the child has enough symptoms of inattention, and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity to meet the criteria for having ADHD. While this form can’t diagnose a child with ADHD, it can be helpful to guide you to see if your child does need additional testing. When filling out this form, think about your child’s behavior over at least the past six months.
Symptoms of Inattention[1]
Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities
Has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
Does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace
Has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
Avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as homework)
Loses things necessary for tasks or activities (toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools)
Is easily distracted by outside stimuli
Is forgetful in daily activities
Symptoms of Hyperactivity
Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
Leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected
Runs about or climbs too much in situations in which it is inappropriate
Has difficulty playing quietly
Is ‘on the go’ or acts as if ‘driven by a motor’
Talks too much
Symptoms of Impulsivity
Bursts out answers before questions have been completed
Has difficulty waiting his or her turn
Interrupts or intrudes on others (such as butting into conversations or games)
Match the terms with their definitions
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developmental disorder |
any condition, such as autism or dyslexia, that appears in childhood and is characterized by delay in the development of one or more psychological functions, such as language skill |
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parenting |
the care and upbringing of a child |
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Disruptive behavior |
Behaviors that hamper the ability of instructors to teach and students to learn |
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frustration |
the prevention or hindering of a potentially satisfying activity |
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attention |
the act of concentrating on any one of a set of objects or thoughts |
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on the go |
active and energetic |
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fidget |
a state of restlessness or unease, esp as expressed in continual motion |
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Impulsivity |
Behavior without adequate thought, the tendency to act with less forethought than do most individuals of equal ability and knowledge, or a predisposition toward rapid, unplanned reactions to internal or external stimuli without regard to the negative consequences of these reactions |
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To skip |
to omit (intervening matter), as in passing from one part or subject to another |
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sluggish |
lacking energy; inactive; slow-moving |
Fill in the gaps with the appropriate words
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disruptive behavior; frustration; sluggish; inattentive behavior; skipping; bored; developmental |
1. Inattentiveness will become more apparent when the child enters school and experiences academic difficulties due to … … .
2. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral and … disorder.
3. Hyperactivity and impulsivity draw greater notice because these symptoms lead to obvious behavioral problems and more … … in school.
4. Often described as forgetful or … , children experiencing symptoms of inattention need treatment just as much as those experiencing the more disrupting symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity.
5. Children who are inattentive have a hard time keeping their minds on any one thing and may get … with a task after only a few minutes.
6. Homework is often accompanied by … for both parent and child.
7. Some inattentive behaviors that parents and teachers should look out for include … from one activity to the next without finishing previous tasks
Say if these statements are true or false
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true |
false |
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Inattention is one of the aspects of ADHD that sometimes goes unnoticed |
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Inattentive behavior does not lead to deficits in school |
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There is one primary characteristic of ADHD: hyperactivity |
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The evaluations often begin with parenting and teacher checklists to see if the child has enough symptoms of inattention, and/or hyperactivity |
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The symptoms of ADHD usually appear in early adulthood |
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Hyperactivity and impulsivity draw greater notice because these symptoms lead to obvious behavioral problems and more disruptive behavior in school. |
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Homework is easy for inattentive children. |