About Attention Deficit Disorder Learning Disability

In almost every school class in America there is at least one child sitting close to the teacher who has difficulty focusing on class instruction, understanding and turning in assignments, blurting out continuously and bothering his classmates. This student is constantly looking for an excuse to leave his desk. Estimates vary with a range as high as 5 to 9 percent of our children attending our public schools are affected by ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Three out of four of these students are boys. While the child's intelligence may be average or above, still his ability to learn and act appropriately is impacted by this learning disability.

History of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• The first written description of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder was a hilarious poem written to entertain children by Dr. Heinrich Hoffman. Dr. Hoffman wanted more material to read to his three year old son. So in 1845 he wrote a collection of poems for children including "The Story of Fidgety Philip." Dr. Hoffman even included his own illustrations. In 1902, Sir George Still created and published a series on the characteristics of a group of 20 significantly impulsive children for the Royal College of Pediatrics in London, England. Since that time there have been thousands of articles, research projects and studies completed on the topic of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Identification of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• It is common for preschoolers to be full of energy, moving from activity to activity through out the day. A child's difficulty learning may be related to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder when his level of activity far exceeds that of his peers. His ability to focus on learning activities is limited, and he is developmentally lagging behind his peers. People often describe these children as lazy, disorderly, defiant, selfish, unmotivated and immature. "We are now learning that ADHD is not a disorder of attention, as had long been assumed. Rather, it is a function of developmental failure in the brain circuitry that monitors inhibition and self-control. This loss of self-regulation impairs other important brain functions crucial for maintaining attention, including the ability to defer immediate rewards for later gain." (Barkley, 1998a).

School Interventions for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• Classroom teachers are frequently the first to request assistance in dealing with a child's learning disability. Teachers quickly spot the child who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder because the disability often wrecks havoc in the classroom setting. Before asking for help, the teacher begins providing classroom interventions. The child may be seated close to the teacher for additional help. The child may be given extra time to complete assignments. If there is paraprofessional time available, the student may receive one on one instructional time. The teacher collects data on the interventions and the outcomes. The parents may be contacted through out this process. A school counselor may quietly visit the room one or more times to collect data on the child's on task behavior. After the data has been collected there is a meeting with the parents, teacher and counseling staff to review the child's present level of performance. More interventions may be requested at this meeting. Parents may be requested to have the child taken to a doctor for an evaluation. The teacher will fill out the screening tool if the doctor request the information.

Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• Only a doctor can make a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The doctor will do a medical evaluation to determine how significant the child's problem is with inattention, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviors. The doctor will also try to determine if other disabilities are present that are contributing to the child's ADHD symptoms. Many doctors ask parents and teachers to fill out a screening tool to assist in making a diagnosis.

Four Areas Affected by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorde

• ADHD is a neurological disorder that is identified by its impact in four major areas.
  1. Attention--causing difficulty with attending or completing task especially if they are not interested in the task.
  2. Impulsive--a lack of self control that affects choices and creates havoc in the school, work and home setting.
  3. Hyperactivity--many (although not all) affected are restless, fidgety, bouncy and "on the go."
  4. The fourth area has not been included in the research, but has been identified by many who have done research in the area of ADHD. Easily bored--if the activity is not stimulating enough, then people affected are easily bored. TV, computer games and playing outside are stimulating activities for people affected with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• There are many different treatments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Not all people affected with this learning disability are alike and none of the treatments available work for every person. Some treatments make a huge difference, while some make little or no difference. Treatment options vary from different types of medication, family counseling therapy, special diets, EEG Biofeedback, alternative medication treatments and even the use of caffeine. In order to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, the family needs to evaluate how the treatments recommended by the doctor are working. With medication the dosage may need to be changed as the child grows.

Tips for Managing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• The person with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder needs to be patiently taught how to have self control. He needs to learn the important social skills like waiting your turn, using good manners, anger management, how to move appropriately for the place, how to complete work assignments and how to get along with peers. The most important skill that any individual with a learning disability like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can learn is to manage their own behavior in socially appropriate ways.