“Who can tell me where China is located on the map?” Ms. Olson Asks.
“Me, me, me, it’s in Asia,” Stuart shouts out over all the raised hands in class.
Later that afternoon at home, “Stuart, get down off that chair this instant!” His mother warns. It is the third time today Stuart has tried to climb on something to prove he can fly.
“Stuart, Stuart, Stuart, I know you can hear me, I have asked you three time to come to the table for dinner”. “What was that mom?” Stuart Replies, several moments later.
Stuart was an active child, always running, jumping, kicking, singing, dancing and screaming at the top of his lungs as an infant. He was sent to school early, because his parents didn't feel he could be trusted at home with the nanny and his new baby sister. She was often the target of his excitement. When he started primary school, he often found it difficult to concentrate on required tasks and longed to fly through the streets of New York to battle criminals like his favourite superhero, Iron Man. In year 1 Stuart was falling behind in most subject areas and found it hard to make friends in and outside the classroom. Children like Stuart find it difficult to concentrate, daydream constantly, and don’t often realize the true danger they put themselves in when attempting new activities alone. In the following video, you will learn how Brad identifies his disorder, and is learning to cope with it.
This behaviour, identified as Attention deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children today. Over the last century, the study of ADHD has fascinated professionals from the medical fields of psychology, and medicine, and the field of educational research, practice and teaching. Through case studies, specialists have focused on a number of aspects of this disorder. These include scientific research of the patterns and causes, approaches of diagnosis, and processes for treatment (Goldstein & Goldstein, 1992).
The definition of ADHD has evolved over years of research, beginning as early as the 1920s as attributes from a brain infection. Around the 1950s, psychologists applied such terms as hyperactive child syndrome, to students portraying overactivity or restlessness (Wicks-Nelson, 2009). Back them it was originally thought to be only present in boys, nevertheless since before the 20th century, there were cases in both male and female children. However, the ratio of boys to girls is currently 6:1 (Goldstein, 1997). Today the term ADHD is used to as a description for any child who shows signs or symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity in combinations with impulsiveness (some of which have been present earlier than 7 years, and some that are present in two or more settings), which lasts a period longer than 6 months in duration. However, one can consider the majority of children under the age of 10 fitting within this criterion. In addition to these indicators, a child can only be clearly identified as having an attention deficit, if there is strong, solid evidence of clinically significant impairment in either social, academic, or occupational functioning (Wicks-Neslon, 2009).
Following is a short video that demonstrates a patient’s view of his own struggles and how he feels society needs clarity about ADHD:
(Higa, 2014)
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), ADHD can be classified into three subtypes: Predominately inactive type (ADHD-I), Predominately Hyperactive Impulsive Type (ADHD-HI) and Combined Type (ADHD-C). Of these three types, the most common is the combined type. For a child to be diagnosed as having ADHD, they must have six or more symptoms from one of the subtypes.
The National Institute of Mental Health states that children who show signs of inattention may:
- Become easily distracted, skip or omit details, overlook things, and repeatedly shift from one activity to another
- Find focusing on one thing at a time challenging
- Become disinterested in a task after only minutes have passed, unless the task is enjoyable to them
- Be challenged by organizing several tasks assigned, and may only be able to follow through with one task a time
- Find completing or turning in homework assignments on time challenging, often losing directions or items needed for assignment completion (pencils, colors, rulers, etc.)
- Seem distant, distracted or “tuned out” when spoken to
- Daydream when task completion is required, become easily disoriented, and move slowly
- Have slow processing speed
- Find following directions challenging
- Twitch and squirm while sitting
- constantly talk
- Often streak around rooms, touching or playing with whatever may be in his/her sight
- Find sitting still during dinner, school, and story time challenging
- Partake in constant motion
- Find completing quiet tasks or activities challenging.
- Seem extremely impatient
- Blurt out inappropriate comments, show their emotions without restraint, and act without regard for consequences
- Have difficulty waiting for things they want or waiting their turns in games
- Often interrupt conversations or others' activities
References
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
(2013,
January 1). Retrieved October 17, 2014, from
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml
Barkley, R. (2006). Attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment (3.rd ed.).
New York: The Guilford Press.
Goldstein, S., & Goldstein, M. (1992). Hyperactivity:
Why won't my child pay attention? New York: J. Wiley.
Goldstein, S. (1997). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 66(6), 11.
Higa, Ryan. [nigahiga]. (2014, April 19). How to Know if You Have ADHD
[Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GBMS7WPFSs
Johnson. [Johnson & Johnson]. (2009, June
22). Brad's Story, A 12-year old with ADHD [Video file].
Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2hLa5kDRCA
Nelson, R., & Israel, A. (2009). Abnormal Child and Adolescent
Psychology (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall
