ADHD ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER HOW DOES ADHD

ADHD (ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER) HOW DOES ADHD MANIFEST ITSELF IN TRANSITION FROM ELEMENTARY THROUGH SECONDARY?

DEFINITION • “ADHD IS A CHRONIC CONDITION MARKED BY PERSISTENT INATTENTION, HYPERACTIVITY, AND SOMETIMES IMPULSIVITY. ADHD BEGINS IN CHILDHOOD AND OFTEN LASTS INTO ADULTHOOD. AS MANY AS 2 OUT OF EVERY 3 CHILDREN WITH ADHD CONTINUE TO HAVE SYMPTOMS AS ADULTS. ” • HTTP: //WWW. WEBMD. COM/ADD-ADHD/CHILDHOOD-ADHD/UNDERSTANDING-ADHD-BASICS

3 TYPES OF ADHD • INATTENTION (NO FOCUS/DISORGANIZED) • HYPERACTIVITY (FIDGET, TALK A LOT AND CANT SIT STILL) • IMPULSIVITY (IMPATIENCE, HARD TIME WAITING TO TALK) • OR… ALL THREE COMBINED

GETTING DIAGNOSED • BEHAVIOUR THAT IS NOT TYPICAL FOR THE AGE • NEGATIVE IMPACT ON SOCIAL SITUATIONS FOR THE PERSON INVOLVED • CONSISTENTLY DISPLAY 6 SYMPTOMS FOR 6 MONTHS • IN 2 SETTINGS (HOME AND SCHOOL)

CHILDREN’S SYMPTOMS PART 1 • INATTENTION • DOES NOT PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS AND OFTEN MAKES CARELESS MISTAKES • HAS DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING ATTENTION DURING TASKS OR GAMES • APPEARS NOT TO LISTEN • HAS TROUBLE CARRYING OUT INSTRUCTIONS AND DOESN’T FINISH CHORES OR SCHOOLWORK • STRUGGLES TO ORGANIZE ACTIVITIES OR TASKS • AVOIDS/DISLIKES TASKS THAT ENTAIL PROLONGED ATTENTION • REGULARLY LOSES THINGS • IS EASILY SIDETRACKED • IS ABSENTMINDED • HAS TROUBLE SITTING STILL AND FREQUENTLY LEAVES HIS/HER SEAT IN THE CLASSROOM

CHILDREN’S SYMPTOMS PART 2 • HYPERACTIVITY/IMPULSIVITY • IS FIDGETY • HAS TROUBLE PLAYING QUIETLY • RUNS, CLIMBS OR ACTS OUT INAPPROPRIATELY • COMPLAINS OF FEELING RESTLESS • TALKS EXCESSIVELY • IS ALWAYS ON THE MOVE • HAS TROUBLE WAITING AND OFTEN BLURTS OUT ANSWERS BEFORE THE TEACHER IS DONE SPEAKING • FREQUENTLY INTERRUPTS AND INTRUDES

ADULTS – WHAT TO WATCH FOR • MOST ADULTS TEND TO OUT-GROW MANY OF THE SYMPTOMS BUT SOME SYMPTOMS CAN STILL REMAIN • THIS CAN AFFECT ADULTS THAT MAY BE LIFE-ALTERING

SYMPTOMS AFFECTING ADULTS CAN INCLUDE • LACK OF FOCUS LACK OF MOTIVATION • HYPERFOCUS RESTLESSNESS • DISORGANIZATION HEALTH PROBLEMS • FORGETFULNESS RELATIONSHIP ISSUES • IMPULSIVITY POOR SELF IMAGE • EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS

TAKEAWAY RESULTS • CHILDREN WILL GET THE DIAGNOSIS AND THEN PLACED ON A FORM OF MEDICATION. THIS IS ONLY DONE BY A TRAINED DOCTOR. • IF THE CHILD IS ON A IEP AND IS DIAGNOSED WITH ADHD, THERE WILL BE AN IEP (INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN) DONE AND THAT WILL BE ATTACHED IN THE STUDENTS FILE. • IF YOU SUSPECT THAT A STUDENT HAS ADHD AND IS SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF IT, CHECK FOR THE STATUS IN THEIR FILE FIRST. • AS ADULTS MATURE (INCLUDES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS) IT IS IMPORTANT TO SET UP ORGANIZATION PLANS, AND /OR THERAPY. • ADULTS TEND TO FALL INTO TRAPS LIKE ALCOHOL OR DRUGS AS A COPING MECHANISM.

MEDICINES • SEE HANDOUT……. • -FOR US VERSION • -FOR CANADIAN VERSION.

REFERENCES • HTTP: //WWW. WEBMD. COM/ADD-ADHD/CHILDHOOD-ADHD/UNDERSTANDINGADHD-BASICS • HTTP: //WWW. WEBMD. COM/ADD-ADHD/GUIDE/ADHD-SYMPTOMS#2 • HTTP: //WWW. HEALTHLINE. COM/HEALTH/ADHD/ADULT-ADHD#OVERVIEW 1 • HTTP: //WWW. CADDRA. CA/PDFS/MEDICATION_CHART_ENGLISH_CANADA. PDF