• ADHD is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder affecting preschoolers, children, adolescent and adults
• 3%to 6% of the children and adult population have AD/HD.
• Boys are 3 to 4 times more than girls
• People with AD/HD may have difficulty with attention or excessive activity, including impulsivity

Symptoms Of ADHD

• Fidget And Squirm When Seated
• Get Up Frequently To Walk or Run Around
• Having Trouble Playing Quietly Or Doing Quiet Hobbies
• Disorganisation
• Lack of Focus
• Difficulty Giving Attention To Detail
• Difficulty Staying On Topic While Talking
• Impatience
• Having A Hard Time Waiting To Talk Or React
• Blurt Out Answers Before Someone Finishes Asking Them A Question
• General Restlessness
• Prone To Anger And Hot Tempered
• Anxiety
• Difficulty In Completing Tasks
• Appearance Of Poor Memory
• Insomnia
• Large And Frequent Emotional Swings
• Difficulty in Following Even Basic Instructions
• Emotional Outbursts
• Low Tolerance Of People, Situations and Surroundings
• Unstable Personal Relationships
• Prone To Losing Items, Including School Work And Personal Items
• Children having more trouble paying attention in class and completing academic assignments than others.
• Controlling excessive energy

ADHD Is Not A Problem Of:

• Will power
• Inadequate parenting
• Lack of motivation
• Lack of intelligence
• Laziness

ADHD Results In Problems With:

• Planning
• Organizing
• Starting and stopping activity
• Managing behaviour
• Persisting on tasks
• Problem solving
• Working memory

How Does Normal Attention Span Go?

Not every student having trouble completing assignments or who is squirmy and disruptive to the class has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Actually, normal attention span seems to develop in three stages.

1. Overly  Exclusive

   • Attention that is focused on a single object for a long period of time while tuning out all other stimuli.
      
   • An example of this would be a baby who focuses totally on a button or a pin on the clothing of the person holding him. A child whose attention becomes stuck at this stage of development might be diagnosed as having autism.

2. Overly Inclusive

• Wide span of attention that is constantly and rapidly changing from one object to another.
   
• Example:- A toddler who is running from one toy to the next never able to stay with any one toy for any period of time.
• 
  A child who is stuck at the second stage of attention span development might be diagnosed as having attention deficit disorder.

3. Selective Attention

The child develops selective attention where he is able to shift focus at will from being inclusive to being very exclusive. This is a mature pattern of attention and concentration that is required to be successful in a classroom learning environment.

Causes For Poor Attention

• Immaturity and slow psychological development
• Learning disabilities such as dyslexia
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Low thyroid
• Low motivation
• Lack of sufficient sleep
• Poor nutrition
• Boredom due to lack of challenge

Causes Of ADHD

• Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD) is caused by a neurological dysfunction within the brain.
• Specific chemicals called neurotransmitters may be lacking in individuals with ADHD.
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may be either inherited or acquired.
• Recent research in genetics has shown that ADHD runs in families.
• Overexposure to radiation
• Prematurity
• Complicated delivery
• After birth these include meningitis, encephalitis, seizures from fever, head injury and lead toxicity
• Excessive use of sweets does not cause ADHD. Though it may make the symptoms worse for some individuals who already have the condition
• Like many other disorders, a child may have the symptoms while his parents may not. Usually there are aunts, uncles, grandparents or cousins with the disorder.
• ADD may be acquired through various conditions that cause damage to the brain like, the use of drugs during pregnancy for toxemia, infectious diseases, etc.

Child With The Symptoms Of Poor Attention And Concentration  

• Should be examined by a physician
• Have the parents and teachers complete questionnaires about the child’s behavior
• Refer to a school psychologist or a mental health professional for further assessment. Depending on the outcome of the entire evaluation,  specific medical, educational or psychological recommendations may be given.

ADHD  Is  Highly  Heritable

How Can We Help People With ADHD

Treatments for ADHD

• Education
• Medication
• Behaviour Modification
• Classroom/Workplace Accommodations

Efficacy Of Medication For ADHD

Improvements In Core Symptoms

• Reduced Hyperactivity
• Reduced Impulsivity
• Improved Attention

Improvements In Related Symptoms

• Reduced Oppositional Behaviour
• Improved Social Relations
• Improved Academic Performance

How Teachers Can Help

• Preferential  Seating
• Shorter Assignments
• Closer Supervision
• Clearer Instructions
• Help in getting started on assignments
• Closer  Supervision Of Homework
• Frequent Communication With Parents/Doctors
• Daily Report Card Program
• Allow Time For Movement
• Extra Set Of Books
• Environment With Fewer Distractions During Tests

Parents Can Help

• Act, Don’t Yak when disciplining
• Take A Disability Perspective
• Manage Behaviour At The Point of Performance
• Work Closely With The School
• Know What Your Child’s Responsibilities Are In School
• Use Rewards And Incentives More Than Punishments
• Find The Things Your Child Does Well And Encourage Them
• Provide Close Supervision For Homework
• Help Your Child Stay Organised
• Monitor Your Child’s Performance And Let Doctor’s Know
• Get Additional Help For Academic Skill Problems, If Needed
• Learn As Much About ADHD As You Can
• Maintain A Good Sense Of Humour

Conclusions

• ADHD Is A Chronic Condition That Has Significant Affects On Learning , Behaviour, Socialization And Performance Across The Lifespan.
• Multi Modal Treatments Work Best And Involve A Combination Of Education About The Condition, Medication, Counselling, Behaviour Management, and School And Workplace Accommodations And Interventions.
• Schools Can Provide Special Education Or Accommodations to Students With ADHD Who Qualify For Programs
• Parents And Teachers Can Make Adjustments To Improve The Performance And Self-Esteem of Children With ADHD
• Enhanced Communication Among Stakeholders (Providers, Parents, Educators, Adults With ADHD) Can Lead To Maximum Improvement

Websites

https://www.additudemag.com/what-is-adhd-symptoms-causes-treatments/

https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd

https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd#1

https://www.psycom.net/adhd

Apps: https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/top-iphone-android-apps

Books To Read

• Jeff Emmerson and Robert Yehling – Beyond ADHD – Overcoming the Label and Thriving
• Lawerence Shapro Ph.D – The ADHD Workbook for Kids
• John .F. Taylor Ph.D – The Survival Guide for Kids with ADD or ADHD

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