Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder What is ADHD? Attention Deficit Disorder (AD/HD) is mostly an organic problem, which tends to run in families. ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder in childhood. An estimated 3 to 5 percent of the general population suffers from the disorder, which is characterized by agitated behavior and an inability to focus on tasks. ¡§ In the early 20th century, American doctors were discussing children who had problems similar to those described by George Fre*censored* Still, who was the first know researcher in Attention Deficit research. The one thing that many of these children had in common, other than their ADD type symptoms, was that they were survivors of the encephalitis epidemic in 1917-1918. Numerous papers described children with ¡§post encephalitic behavior disorder¡¨ as impaired in attention, regulation of activity, and impulse control. Like Still¡¦s patients, these children were also socially disruptive and many had memory problems.¡¨(About.com: 2) At this time, the disorder was not recognized as AD/HD, but was known as ¡§Brain Damaged¡¨ because of the encephalitis. As time passed, other researchers discovered that these children were not brain damaged but had a learning disability. It was not until 1980 this disorder was recognized as ADHD. ADHD problems can effect many areas of a child¡¦s life: self-esteem, academic skills, social relationships, and family relationships. Treatments need to be as broad as the effect and include Psycho-Education, Medication (including herbs and homeopathic drugs), Behavioral therapies, Social Skills, Organization and/or time management, Family therapy, Individual therapy, and Sensory-motor integration. ¡§Stimulants such... ... middle of paper ... ...ucation but minor in Special Ed. This will give me the opportunity to help children like the student at College Park Elementary School. Bibliography: 1. About.com. Teaching the AD/HD Student. 23 March. 2001 http://add.miningco.com/health/add/library/weekly/blfaqteach.htm. 2. The Council for Exceptional Children. Teaching Children with AD//HD.1989 http://www.btinternet.com/~black.ice/addnet/teaching.html. 3. Vitiello M.D., Benedetto. Study update: Long- Term Effects of Stimulant Medications in AD/HD Children.1996 http://www.chadd.org/attention/attnv7n1p9.htm 4. Barkley RA., Murphy. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder adults: comorbidities and adaptiveimpairments.1996 http://add.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%3A80%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Fcmd%3DRetrieve%26db%3DPubMed%26list_uids%3D8932963%26dopt%3DAbstract

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