The World of ADHD Children

ADHD during middle childhood affects children’s behaviors at home and school. There are many different symptoms that children experience before they are diagnosed with ADHD, these symptoms all fall under the three main types of the disorder; predominately inattentive type, predominately hyperactive-impulsive type, and the combined type. ADHD is often found with other disorders and associated problems. Middle childhood children diagnosed with ADHD can begin to experience many challenges in school and at home. Although ADHD cannot be cured it can be successfully treated and managed to support all children diagnosed with ADHD to being successful academically and to have control over their behaviour.

A number of parents observe signs of inattentiveness, restlessness, and impulsivity in their child even before their child starts school. The child might lose attention while playing a game or watching TV, or the child might dash about totally unrestrained. Since children mature at different levels and vary in character, nature, and energy levels, it is critical to obtain a specialist’s diagnosis of whether the behavior is suitable for the child's age, the child has ADHD or the child is simply immature or uncommonly high-spirited. To qualify as having ADHD, the symptoms must significantly affect a child's ability to function at home and at school. A diagnosis is based on the guidelines provided in the “American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) published in 1994 (Barkley 133)”.

Children often learn their behavior from adults or peers and although a child might not be physically involved, but even being an audience, he/she is learning the negative behavior. There must be an effort to put a stop to violence in schools, households, or even in communities as it affects children greatly. To begin, many children are affected or living in households where violence is a part of everyday activity. Whether it ranges from video games, yelling or serious physical violence, children are... ... middle of paper ... ...and-take-a-stand-against-bullying/article_ecf47c96-27d6-11e3-8440-0019bb2963f4.html Rudolph, K. D., Troop-Gordon, W., Hessel, E. T., & Schmidt, J. D. (2011). A Latent Growth Curve Analysis of Early and Increasing Peer Victimization as Predictors of Mental Health across Elementary School.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Retrieved October 4, 2011, from National Institute of Mental Health: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/adhd_booklet.pdf Pelham, W., Fabiano, G., & Massetti, G. (2005). Evidence-based assessment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolscent Psychology, 449-76.

“Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a condition in which a person not only has a great difficulty concentrating for more than a few minutes but also is inattentive, impulsive, and overactive” (The Developing Person Through the Life Span, page 310). Both children and adults are diagnosed with ADHD, but children hold a higher percentage of this diagnosis because the disorder usually appears in early to middle childhood. “The average age of ADHD diagnosis was 7 years of age, but children reported by their parents as having more severe ADHD were diagnosed earlier” (Web, CDC). The symptoms of childhood ADHD, from a personal standpoint, seem to almost mirror what I have observed as normal (developmental) childhood behavior (angst). “The main symptom, (among the three main symptoms) of ADHD is the inability to pay attention.

Retrieved March 1, 2009, from OCDSymptoms.co.uk http://www.ocdsymptoms.co.uk/common-ocd-misconceptions.html Packer, L. (2004). Tips for Accommodating Students with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Retrieved March 1,2009, from Tourettesyndrome.net http://www.tourettesyndrome.net/ocd_treatment.htm U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment. (1994) Mental Disorders and Genetics: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Society. Washington DC.

In order to diagnose ADHD, these symptoms must occur more frequent than children of the same age and must occur in more than one sitting. 90% of ADHD patients take Ritalin, a mild central nervous system stimula... ... middle of paper ... ...illness, it is very hard to diagnose and is very frustrating for an ADHD parent. ADHD is usually controlled by Ritalin, a mild nervous system stimulant. Due to the fact that there is no true way to determine ADHD, it is often a misdiagnosis of a child acting like a child. Works Cited “ADD,” What causes ADD?, 1997, Netscape Navigator 22 November /page_341_826.asp>.

Boys are four times more likely to have ADHD than the girls. Students without the disorder that work around children with ADHD have trouble working with them and may think that the child is weird or annoying. The reason they would think this way about another child is that the child acts differently then what they consider to be normal behavior during school. There was a kid in my elementary class with ADHD in my sixth grade class. He had a hard time focusing during the lesson and would start taking whenever he wanted during the class.

The Dark side of a Wonder Drug-A Selected Collection of Testimony on the Safety of Ritalin "We give our children every day, yet we punish adults for taking speed," stated a concerned parent(Ritalin Zone). A trip to the principal's office used to mean big trouble. These days, more kids are showing up in the school office just to get their midday dose of Ritalin. Ritalin, the drug used to treat hyperactivity in children, is being seized on by a generation worried about controlling inappropriate behavior. But some doctors think Ritalin is being prescribed to children who are simply having trouble in school.

The success of students rides heavily upon their ability to pay attention during class however some children struggle. “Attention- deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, known as ADHD, is a common behavioral disorder that affects an estimated 3% to 5% of school-age children “(Richard, 2013). These kids react without thinking, have difficulty focusing, and can’t sit still for too long. Kids with ADHD understand directions given to them however they have trouble doing the task because of their inability to sit still. Children with ADHD are easily distracted as they constantly move and don’t think ahead when it comes to their actions.