Anderson,+Jordan,+Attention+Deficit+Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
 Going into teaching I want to know what this seemingly prevalent disorder is all about, how it affects children (and adults) learning and behavior, and what it will require of me in the classroom. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder isn't something I know a lot about, but have heard referenced frequently in academia. My sister’s best friend through elementary and high school was a brilliant, active girl and diagnosed with ADHD. Despite efforts by her teachers and friends she eventually lost interest in school and ended up transferring and finally dropping out. Nothing could hold her interest in school despite her immense talents and creativity. This troubled me personally because Julie had potential and it slipped away before all our eyes. I can’t say if that’s anybody’s fault, however, I do know that her disorder contributes to the lack of stability in her life.

As a teacher entering a field with more and more cases of ADHD I want to know the best methods for teaching these kids—sparking their interest, and holding it.

Five Quick Facts about ADHD:
1. Academic statistics report three to five percent of children have ADHD.

2. Three primary or common symptoms of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness, however these are usually accompanied by many other symptoms if not other disorders. In the majority of cases ADHD is one of several cognitive or learnering disorders a person may have.

3. There is controversy in academic and medical fields over the diagnosis, treatment, and even existence of the disorder. Because misdiagnosisis prevalent with ADHD, it is recommended that if suspected the child be reviewed by a specialist (i.e. a doctor).

4. The specific cause of ADHD is still unknown although it is widely held that the root of the cause is neurological, caused by a dysfunction or malformation of the brain. According to one study, 75 percent of ADHD cases were determined to be linked to heredity. There is also significant evidence that the cause for some cases of ADHD (if not all) to be societal in nature, that is, caused by the influence of people and social environment.

5. Different treatments exist, varying between the use of stimulants (typically Ritalin) and behavioral treatments.

The primary source I would recommend on this site for interesting information about ADHD:
is the following video about Brad, a Jr. High kid with ADHD. It take's a positive look at how this disorder is manageable while specifically outlining the problematic issues associated with it. Much of the video is narrated by Brad himself which helps the viewer connect to the story and his struggle. While ADHD poses some problems for learning and classroom management of children afflicted with it, it is entirely treatable and doesn't need to hamper any child's potential.

media type="custom" key="7560915" Informative value 4/5 Entertaining 5/5

General Facts
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Here's a brief eye-grabbing presentation about ADHD, it's presumed causes, treatments, and some suggestions at the end for those struggling with ADHD and how to best combat their disorder. It's not really geared toward any audience but does explicitly note that if a child (or adult) is symptomatic of this disorder to not jump to conclusions and consult a specialist.

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">media type="custom" key="7561073" <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Informative value 4/5 <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Entertaining 4/5

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">This presentation from Slideshare.net was informative yet pithy; it laid out the facts of ADD and ADHD in a very straight forward, albeit boring, manner. It contains some tips for teaching children with these disorders and also outlines other disorders typically associated with ADHD.

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">media type="custom" key="7542347" <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Informative value 5/5 <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Entertaining 2/5

=<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Treatment =

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">The following video is a brief example of successful treatment of ADHD with drug therapy. Some have the school of thought that medication for this disorder is unnecessary and in some cases unsafe, in many cases it is found to be the most effective combatant for the distracting symptoms of ADHD. However, this isn't a case study, it actually sounds more like a news feature. But either way it gives perspective into the issue and gives the testimony of a child afflicted with ADHD, her parents, and specialists. <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">media type="custom" key="7561235" align="left"

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> Informative value: 3/5 <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> Entertaining 4/5

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">In recent years a new type of treatment for ADHD called Neurofeedback has been proposed by the medical community. While still in it's trial stages it appears to be as effective as drug treatment without the negative side effects of stigma medication carries. Katherine Ellison, a writer with ADHD and a parent of a child with ADHD speaks about her experience with this experimental treatment on NPR. <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">media type="custom" key="7561659" <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> Informative Value: 5/5 <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> Entertaining 5/5

=<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Diagnosis: Do I Have ADHD? =

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">An article published November 18 stated that one in 10 children has been diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">lives. According to a survey conducted by Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been an increase of ADHD prevalence (or at least diagnosis) of 22% since 2003.

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">[]

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> Because the three primary symptoms of ADHD are vague and apply to many children (inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness), self-diagnosis or presumed affliction with ADHD is becoming more common. <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">One article published on NPR states that there has been general misdiagnoses of the disease noting a trend in diagnosis of the child's age and behavior in comparison with the rest of the class. The article also calls out teachers for being presumptuous and suggesting to parents to have their children examined for ADHD too readily. The author also mentions how drug companies don't object to over diagnosis <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">[].

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> Here is an example of a specific example of medication used to treat ADHD called "CONCERTA." On it's website it has it's very own seven question symptom screener for parents to test their kids. The application also has a disclaimer stating that only a licensed professional can positively diagnose a child of ADHD and prescribe medication. It's not very conclusive in any way but at the end, regardless of result recommends you talk to a healthcare professional if you suspect symptoms. <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">[]

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> The following are general and specific guidelines for classroom management for children with ADHD. The general technique for managing a student or group of students with ADHD is not, or shouldn't be, a technique unfamiliar to teachers. The first site is a dot com site with a list of good practices for teaching kids with ADHD such as using signals to get child's attention, seating them far from distraction, etc. The second site is a very in depth academic database cataloging articles about pediatric health, including "treatment of school-aged children with adhd." <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> 3/5 Informative value <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"> 5/5 Informative value

=<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">In the classroom = <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;">Teachers need to be aware of the individual needs of students with any learning disability, especially ADHD as it can vary greatly from case to case. This website (@http://helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_teaching_strategies.htm) had a surprising amount of information for parents and teachers about attending the basic needs of students with ADHD, how to accommodate their symptoms and have fun at school as well. Some tips they post include how to assist kids with reading, how to accommodate different learning styles, as well as how to combat hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.