Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)


     Imagine living in a world where sights, sounds, images and thoughts are

constantly changing and shifting. Unable to focus on whatever task is at hand,

your mind wanders from one activity or thought to the next. Sometimes you become

so lost among all the thoughts and images that you don't even notice when

someone is speaking to you.

     This is what it is like for many people who have Attention Deficit

Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. Once called hyperkinesis or minimal brain

dysfunction, ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders among children. It

affects 3 to 5 percent of all children, and it is likely to occur two to three

times more in boys than in girls.

     People who have ADHD may be unable to sit still, plan ahead, finish

tasks, or be completely aware of what is going on in the world around them.

However, on some occasions, they may appear "normal", leading others to believe

that the person with ADHD can control such behaviors. As a result of this, ADHD

can hinder the person's relationships and interactions with others in addition

to disrupting their daily life and lowering self-esteem.

     To determine whether or not a person has ADHD, specialists must consider

several questions: Do these behaviors occur more often than in other people of

the same age? Are the behaviors an ongoing problem, not just a response to a

[temporary] situation? Do the behaviors occur only in one specific place or in

several different settings?

     In answering these questions, the person's behavior patterns are

compared to a set of criteria and characteristics of ADHD. The Diagnostic

Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) presents this set of criteria.

According to the DSM, there are three patterns of behavior that indicate ADHD:

inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

     According to the DSM, signs of inattention include: becoming easily

distracted by irrelevant sights and sounds; failing to pay attention to details

and making careless mistakes; rarely following instructions carefully and/or

completely; and constantly losing or forgetting things like books, pencils,

tools, and such.

     Some signs of hyperactivity and impulsivity, according to the DSM, are:

the inability to sit still, often fidgeting with hands and feet; running,

climbing, or leaving a seat in situations where sitting or quiet, attentive

behavior is required; difficulty waiting in line or for a turn; and blurting out

answers before hearing the entire question.

     However, because almost everyone will behave in these manners at some

time, the DSM has very specific guidelines for determining if they indicate ADHD.

Such behaviors must appear early in life, before age 7, and continue for at

least 6 months. For children, these behaviors must occur more frequently and

severely than in others of the same age. Most of all, the behaviors must create

a true handicap in at least 2 areas of the person's life (e.g. school, home,

work, social settings).

     One of the difficulties in diagnosing ADHD is that it is usually

accompanied by other problems. Many children who have ADHD also have a learning

disability. This means that they h
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