ADHD

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder
 Definition according to DSM 5
➔ Persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with
functioning or development
◆ Six (or more) of the symptoms have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree
that is inconsistent with developmental level and that negatively impacts directly
on social and academic/occupational activities:
➔ Inattention manifests as wandering off task, having difficulty focusing, and being
disorganized
➔ Hyperactivity refers to excessive motor activity when it is not appropriate, or excessive
fidgeting, or talkativeness.
➔ Impulsivity refers to hasty actions that occur in the moment without forethought and
that have high potential for harm to the individual

2
 Prevalence
➔ children aged 3–17 years ever diagnosed with ADHD, 6 million (9.8%) using data from
2016-2019
◆ 3–5 years: 265,000 (2%)
◆ 6–11 years 2.4 million (10%)
◆ 12–17 years: 3.3 million (13%)
➔ Boys (13%) are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls (6%)
◆ About half of the children with ADHD had a behavior or conduct problem.
◆ About 3 in 10 children with ADHD had anxiety.
➔ 2.5% in adults
◆ Most women get diagnosed in adulthood due to misdiagnosis

3
 Prevalence
➔ Girls are more likely to be improperly diagnosed with other mental health conditions
like:
◆ bipolar disorder
◆ personality disorders
◆ Depression
◆ Anxiety
➔ clinicians often miss ADHD in girls, for a few key reasons:
◆ they more often have internalized (and less noticeable) symptoms
◆ they’re more likely to use coping strategies that help hide their symptoms
◆ parents and teachers are less likely to refer girls for diagnosis and treatment
➔ “What’s different are the behaviors and presentation of the same symptoms because of
the structural and functional differences between the male and female brain,”

4
 Causes
● The cause(s) and risk factors for ADHD are unknown, but current research shows that
genetics plays an important role.
● Other possible causes
○ Brain injury
○ Exposure to environmental risks (e.g., lead) during pregnancy or at a young age
○ Alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy
○ Premature delivery
● ADHD is NOT from
○ Eating too much sugar
○ Watching too much tv
○ social/environmental factors

5
 Symptoms
● overlooking details
● trouble listening
● avoiding tasks
● forgetfulness
● easily distracted
● fidgeting
● impatience
● need to be constantly moving
● indecisiveness

6
 ADHD Paralysis
➔ The overwhelm-shutdown process that can happen when you live with ADHD.
◆ When too many things are happening, or too many emotions are building,
you may “freeze” as a way of responding to the stress.
➔ Types:
◆ ADHD mental paralysis. A state of overwhelm from too many converging
thoughts and emotions.
● It may make it challenging to speak, move, or convey what’s going on
in your mind at the moment.
◆ ADHD task paralysis. A freeze in motivation may result in procrastination
and task avoidance.
◆ ADHD choice paralysis: a sense of overwhelm related to too many choices
or the need to make a decision.

7
 Symptoms in Females
➔ talking frequently or excessively, even when parents or teachers ask them to stop *
➔ extreme emotional sensitivity and reactivity, such as crying or becoming upset easily *
➔ extreme focus on things that interest them *
➔ trouble paying attention to directions at home or school *
➔ a tendency to daydream or seem lost in their own world *
➔ a habit of blurting out thoughts or acting on impulses *
➔ frequent forgetfulness *
➔ a habit of abandoning goals or plans halfway
➔ disorganization, which might show up as a messy bedroom, desk, or backpack *
➔ trouble forming and maintaining friendships *
➔ trouble sleeping *
➔ relational aggression toward peers, including gossip, bullying, intimidation,
➔ a preference for strenuous outdoor activities and sports
8 that require a lot of energy *
 “
Gender stereotypes can have an impact, too. Caregivers
might assume quiet and dreamy girls, or overly
talkative ones, are simply “being girls.” They might
chalk these signs up to personality instead of
considering them in the context of other key signs, like
distractibility, fidgeting, or difficulty managing
emotions.

9
 Diagnosis
➔ There is no single test to diagnosis ADHD
➔ One step is to go through standard medical screening to rule out other
problems.
◆ Hearing and Vision Test
➔ Checklist and Rating system of the symptoms the child is exhibiting
◆ Also taking the child’s history from the parent/guardian and the teacher
➔ To diagnose ADHD in ages 17 years or older, only 5 symptoms are needed.
◆ Symptoms might look different at older ages.

10
 Treatments
➔ The most common treatment is a mix between behavior therapy and medication.
◆ Types of medication:
● Stimulants are the best-known and most widely used ADHD
medications.
○ Between 70-80% of children with ADHD have fewer ADHD
symptoms when taking these fast-acting medications.
● Non-Stimulants were approved for the treatment of ADHD in 2003.
○ They do not work as quickly as stimulants, but their effect can last
up to 24 hours.

11
 Treatments for ages 6 and Younger

➔ Behavior therapy is an important first step before trying medication

◆ Parent training in behavior management gives parents the skills and
strategies to help their child.
● Parent training in behavior management has been shown to work as
well as medication for ADHD in young children.
◆ Young children have more side effects from ADHD medications than
older children.
● The long-term effects of ADHD medications on young children
have not been well-studied.

12
 Treatments for school-age and adolescents
➔ AAP recommends combining medication treatment with behavior therapy.
◆ Several types of behavior therapies are effective, including:
● Parent training in behavior management
● Behavioral interventions in the classroom
● Peer interventions that focus on behavior
● Organizational skills training.
➔ These approaches are often most effective if they are used together, depending on
the needs of the individual child and the family.

13
 Relevant Facts/Information
● Leonardo Da Vinci possibly had ADHD
○ A study from King's College London suggested that Leonardo Da Vinci's
famous productivity and tendency to leave projects unfinished were signs of
ADHD
● It can create Hyperfocus
○ "According to Pepperdine University, some people with ADHD may become
hyper focused. This makes them so intently focused on a task that they may
not even notice the world around them,"
● Adults With ADHD Experience Boosted Creativity
○ A study in 2018 found that adults with ADHD feel empowered and flourish
doing creative tasks.

14
 How does it affects students?
➔ Physical Dysregulation
◆ Students miss critical instruction if they are frequently out of the classroom in
search of movement breaks.
● Many students with ADHD are better able to focus their attention when
moving their bodies or receiving sensory input.
◆ Children may be more present in class if allowed to stand at a desk or taught to
engage in deep pressure movements.
➔ Sustained Attention
◆ The ability to maintain attention to task and filter out environmental distractions is
critical to their success.
◆ Classrooms are active places and come with their fair share of background noise
and movement. The squeak of a chair, the tapping of a pencil
● all environmental stimuli that can derail the focus of a child with ADHD.
15
 How does it affects students?
➔ Emotional Regulation
◆ Often their thoughts are racing faster than their bodies can keep up.
◆ Many children with ADHD are of average to above average intelligence.
● They often understand the content presented in the classroom but struggle to
demonstrate that understanding in school.
◆ Students with ADHD may feel incapable and defeated, and may even go so far as
to simply give up on the task at hand.
◆ ADHD often impedes a student’s readiness for learning, thus adversely impacting
academic performance.
16
 What Can we do to help?
➔ Communication
◆ Give frequent feedback and attention to positive behavior
◆ Provide extra warnings before transitions and changes in routines
➔ Organizational training
◆ teaches children time management, planning skills, and ways to keep school
materials organized
➔ Flexible Seating
➔ Accomodations
◆ Extra time on tests;
◆ Positive reinforcement and feedback
◆ Using technology to assist with tasks
◆ Allowing breaks
◆ Changes to the environment to limit distraction
◆ Extra help with staying organized.
17
“

18
 Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html#Causes
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/treatment.html
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/school-success.html
https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/executive-functioning-strategies-blog/how-does-adhd-in-chil
dren-impact-academic-performance
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html
https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/adhd-in-girls#risk-factors
https://www.bustle.com/p/20-facts-about-adhd-no-one-ever-tells-you-17907406

19