OPPapers.com

Adhd

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral disorder that is typified by distractibility, inability to sit still, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating on one thing for any period of time. ADHD generally occurs in children; however a rising amount of adults are being diagnosed with the disorder. In the United States, ADHD is the most frequently diagnosed childhood psychiatric disorder, as it accounts for 30-50% of all mental health referrals (Nigg, 2006). ADHD is present in approximately 3-6% of all children and males are twice as likely as females to be diagnosed (Nigg, 2006). Unfortunately, ADHD does not have an easily recognized set of symptoms or a single test to pinpoint its existence.
The current system for diagnosis is set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association. The last major revision of the DSM was published in 1994, and is the current edition used by healthcare providers. ADHD is classified into three subtypes: ADHD-C, ADHD-PI, and ADHD-PHI. Inattention symptoms may dominate in some cases, hyperactivity in others, and in the combined type of ADHD the two occur together. The inattentive type (ADHD-PI) is differentiated by the inability to pay attention to a specific task or the inability to concentrate; the academic performance of this type of child may subsequently suffer. The hyperactive-impulsive type (ADHD-PHI) is differentiated by behavioral issues such as: excessive talking, fidgeting, making unnecessary noises, and bothering others. The combined type (ADHD-C) is a combination of inattention and hyperactive-impulsive; according to Trueit (2004) 50 – 70% of all children diagnosed with ADHD fit into this category. Diagnosing ADHD is a multi-stepped process that involves gathering information from teachers, parents, and other caregivers in order to diagnose the disorder. A physician will usually review the information given and...