Attention Defecit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Books on ADHD at bottom of page with short description.
Even though people without A.D.H.D, seem innattentive or highly active at times, the child with A.D.H.D, will experience the difficulties alot more severely. Children with A.D.H.D, have both the attentional and the hyperactivity- impulsiveness components. Because of these, difficulties appear in behavioural expectations of the child's chronological age, both at home and school. At school a child will find it very difficult to sit quietly in class, and fidget with pens, pencils and their work books, or even moving their chair several times and talk to the child next to them despite the teachers request for quietness in class ( some will even sharpen a pencil over and over again ).
During the 50's and 60's, children who showed the symptoms of A.D.H.D, were then diagnosed as being slightly brain-damaged or sometimes simply labeled as a behaviour problem. Under the diagnostic and statistical manual 4th edition (DSM.IV), it describes A.D.H.D, as a pattern of inattention and/or impulsivity - hyperactivity more severe than which is expected for the child's developmental level. Symptoms must be however present before the age of 7. Please note however that diagnosis is usually only made following interference with school activities, as the symptoms must be present in at least two settings, with a clear interference of academic and social or occupational functioning. Innattention must be evident in (1) failing to pay attention to tasks and making careless errors. (2) seems like the child is not listening to instructions. (3) Being disorganised. (4) Being easily distracted by background noise. (5) Finding it difficult in persisting the task to completion. (6) Loses work or even damaging things. (7) Tending to be forgetful. (8) Avoiding activities which require very close attention.
Hyperactivity is seen as (1) Not remaining seated when told to do so. (2) Repeatedly talking on impulse due to the hyperactive behaviour. (3) Being impatient to wait their turn. (4) Impatient in class ie-shouting out answers before the teacher has even finished asking the question. (5) Always appears like they are on the go. (6) Finding it difficult to sit still and being fidgety. (7) Often interrupts and intrudes. (8) Runs and climb's unappropriatly. (9) Finds it difficult to enjoy quietness....
As with most conditions boys seem to out-number the girls by about 4-1, studies seem to show that low birth weight maybe a major link in the condition, it is also thought that infections at a very young age also could be a link. For many children the symptoms seem to remain pretty stable until the early teen's then seem to peak during adolescence and adulthood. It is thought that only about 30-40% actually persist into the late teens of some individuals and they continue to experience all the symptoms in early adulthood whilst some only retain some of the symptoms. Some children maybe be punished, rejected or even ridiculed in school and at home, the child then feels he/she is unable to perform duties or tasks to others expectations no matter how hard they try....
The causes of A.D.H.D,
are still unclear as yet, although there does seem to be a genetic factor
a strong link that seems to appear in some families.
PET scan's ( Positron emission tomography ) have been used and have found
a reduced metabolism in what's known as the pre-frontal and pre-motor cortex
in the brain of adults, for younger patients the tests are a lot less clear,
as you are required to remain still for a period of time and for children
with A.D.H.D, they find this difficult to do so.
Also please take note that siblings often can feel resentful to the child with A.D.H.D, possibly due to what they can get away with. It has also been known for the child with A.D.H.D, to be resentful to a younger sibling who never gets into trouble and does better than them at school, jealously can then take affect. One more thing to take into account about the child with A.D.H.D, is that he/she can become bored very easily, even getting irritable and can also become depressed for no apparent reason....
Beyond Ritalin
This book is about how ritalin helps the patient with A.D.H.D,reducing the
hyperactivity and helping the concentration.... Teaching The Tiger
Its a book aimed at teachers and parents of children who have A.D.H.D,Tourettes
Syndrome and O.C.D.... Teaching Teens Got a teacher that doesn't understand
A.D.H.D, or A.D.D. This is the ideal book to help teacher understand as it
's designed specifically for teachers.... The ADD-ADHD Checklist This
book was written by an A.D.D, and A.D.H.D, expert it covers the true facts
of the conditions, and deals with strategies....
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