Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly known as ADD or ADHD, has become much more common recently. As of 1994 the DSM-IV stated that about 3%-5% of American school aged children have this disorder. While it is quite a few children, what I find to be even more interesting are the male-to-female ratios within the disorder. They range from 4:1 to 9:1. According to Wade, Carol &Travis (2000), boys make up 80 to 90 percent of all ADHD cases. What I've looked into finding out is why there is such a gender difference. I wanted to know if it was because the way society raises girls, or are boys really at a higher risk for it. I am interested in this topic because a male cousin of mine recently was diagnosed with this disorder. You always hear about boys having this problem. This made me think about why there arenâ€TMt many girls that suffer from this. The one variable that I am most interested in for this study is how the label of having ADHD affects girls as opposed to boys. This topic is relevant to psychology because it is looking at the females social development and if it is impaired just because a label was put on her. Besides just socially, feeling that the child is different will lead to the parents, teachers, and other caregivers to treat the child differently, creating a different than normal development. To begin with, ADHD is a disorder in which there are persistent patterns of inattention and/ or impulsivity. It is a leading cause of school failure and under-achievement. Some of the characteristics include fidgeting with hands, difficulty remaining seated, not following through on instructions, shifting from one uncompleted task to another, interrupting conversations, a... ... middle of paper ... ...chiatry, 38, 40-48. Littman, E., (2000). ADHD under diagnosed in girls. Family Practice News, 30, 8. Gaub, M., Carlson, C. (1997). Gender differences in ADHD: A meta-analysis and critical review. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 36, 1036-1046. Biederman, J., et al. (1999). Clinical correlates of ADHD in females: Findings from a large group of girls ascertained from pediatric and psychiatric referral sources. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 38, 996-972. Greene, R., et al. (2001). Social impairment in girls with ADHD: Patterns, gender comparisons, and correlates. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 40, 704-715. (2001). Girls with ADHD at greater risk for psychiatric problems. The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, 17, 6.
It can easily be said that most playful, curious children lie somewhere on the spectrum of what is considered ADHD, which is why the biological basis of the disorder has been continually disputed, as described earlier. This allows for biases and factors based on socioeconomic placement and race to creep into the diagnostic process, which is often described as “frequently discrepant and [lacking] an objective diagnostic basis” [4]. Overdiagnosis is rampant amongst the pediatric community, as the National Health Interview Survey shows that “9.5% of children between the ages of 4 and 17 were diagnosed with ADHD”, however, even that large percentage of children with ADHD is not evenly distributed. “Twice as many boys as girls” [6] were diagnosed with ADHD, which reflects a pervasive idea in modern society that men are inhrently more raucous and inconsiderate than women. The nature of men has essentially been evaluated to be a certain way, and the overdiagnosis of ADHD among young boys underlines society’s reinforcement of that
ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). (2004). In The concise Corsini encyclopedia of psychology and behavioral science. Retrieved from http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?qurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.credoreference.com.library.gcu.edu%3A2048%2Fcontent%2Fentry%2Fwileypsych%2Fadhd_attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder%2F0
The study revealed 3 sets of conclusions; there were no marked distinctions among the children of the random group at 7 to 9 years of age; the symptom path as a child gave a prediction of the outcome at the 6 and 8 year follow-up; even with the medication and the behavioral therapy the MTA group was at a lower capacity of functioning than the non-MTA sample at 2 years. What the study showed was that the disparity of the effects of treatment at the time of delivery lessened when the treatment was relaxed (Molina et al., 2011). The introductory clinical appearance of ADHD in childhood that included the worst of ADHD symptoms, any conduct problems, the intellect of the child, any social...
ADHD is a disorder that has been on the rise for several years now. The disorder is one that can cause many impairments to a child’s attention span, making it difficult to concentrate and to keep on task, especially on schoolwork. (Graham, 2007) The statistics have been growing ...
“Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).” Tish Davidson, AM., Teresa G. Odle., and Laura Jean Cataldo, RN, Ed.D. The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders. 3rd Edition. 2010.
National Institute of Mental Health (1999). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Retrieved April 2, 2003 from www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm#adhd3
In children, ADHD is 3-5 times more common in boys than in girls. Some studies report an incidence ratio of as high as 5:1. The predominantly inattentive type of ADHD is found more commonly in girls than in boys.
Chandler, C. (2011). The Science of ADHD: A Guide for Parents and Professionals. New York:
According to a variety of clinical studies appearing in various peer-reviewed journals, only 8% of children and 5% of adults have ADHD, but 21 to 45% of all criminals in US prison have ADHD (Quily.) One of the most prevalent mental conditions in children, ADHD is also one of the fastest growing mental health problems for school-age populations (Wolfe.) Its occurrence appears to be anywhere between 2 to 10% of children in school, and corresponds to 7.4% of parents with children ages 3-17 indicating that they have been notified that their child has this condition. As a result, treatment numbers for ADHD have dramatically increased over the last few decades; ADHD is more commonly diagnosed in boys than girls although there are no discernible disparities in diagnosis by race. A great deal of research has focused on short-term consequences of this condition on school-age children, including an increased...
Children today seem to be plagued with a chronic psychiatric condition called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, otherwise known as ADHD. Estimates suggest that this disorder is affecting 3% to 5% of the children in this country (Bussing 233). In the United States this means reference is being made to nearly 5 million ADHD children. ADHD isn¡¦t just some convenient or fancy term for what parents would call a child who misbehaves. This condition, recognized in previous years as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Minimal Brain Dysfunction, Minimal Brain Damage, Hyperkinesis and Hyperactivity, is a serious medical condition that is thought to cause inappr...
These symptoms prove to be particularly challenging to children and adolescents. Although they may be quite intelligent, their lack of focus frequently results in poor grades and difficulty in school. Children and adolescents with ADHD tend to act impulsively, without addressing the consequences of their actions until it is too late. Their attention spans are much shorter than most children?s are, thus they become bored easily and frustrated with ...
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is very commonly known. Today, ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders among children. The NIMH (The national institute of mental health) predicts that it affecting 3 to 5 percent of all children(AACAP), with an approximate amount of 30% to 65% of these children experiencing persistence of symptoms into adolescence and adulthood (AACAP).There are three types of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type, Predominantly Inattentive Type, and Combination Type(ehow.com). The symptoms of ADHD can be classified into three main categories; hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. These behaviors can interfere with ADHD sufferers’ ability to focus deliberately on organizing and completing a specific task that they may not enjoy. A case of this kind of behavior is recognized in a report written by the National Institute of Mental Health where one of the subjects under study was unable to pass schooling examinations due to her inattentive behavior (clinicaltrials.gov) These kinds of behaviors can damage the person's relationships with others in addition to disrupting their daily life, consuming energy, and diminishing self-esteem, depending on severity of their symptoms (adhd.com). In this paper, the multiple factors of how ADHD affects, and is handled, of those who undergo this disorder, are shown.
According to Maria Basile, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is classified as a disruptive behavior disorder characterized by ongoing difficulty with attention span, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity. She points out that many children have challenged themselves to keep the disorder under control. She also shows that the children can be over-active or impulsive. Their development is not equal to an average child. Numerous of researches have been constructed in order to determine the percentage of children that posse ADHD. Basile shows statistics that reveal the percentage of the children who have ADHD, “The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that 3% to 5% of children have ADHD. Some experts, though, say ADHD may occur in 8% to 10% of school age children” (Basi...
From these articles I have also learned that it is easier to pick out boys with ADHD than it is with girls. This is because the boys are generally more active, restless and known for impulsiveness. Girls with ADHD are normally up and down in regards to their grades. One day she will get zeros and the next will be perfects on the same assignments. The attention level that boys show tends to be the...
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder also known as ADHD, is one of the most common childhood psychological disorders and can continue through adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed in 6-7% of children. The rate of diagnosis is similar between countries. Although is it not known why boys are about three times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with ADHD.