ADHD

(ATTENTION DEFICIT
HYPERACTIVE
DISORDER)
BY: JAVERIA ZAHOOR
COMSATS UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD
 What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a
neurodevelopmental condition whereby individuals find it
difficult to focus their attention and control their behavior.
Individuals with ADHD usually cannot concentrate for
long and may do or say things without considering the
consequences.
CRITERIA BY DSM-V
INATTENTIVE PRESENTATION:
• Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes(home, school, social
setting)
• Has difficulty sustaining attention
• Does not appear to listen
• Struggles to follow through on instructions
• Has difficulty with organization
• Avoids or dislikes tasks requiring a lot of thinking
• Loses things
• Is easily distracted
• Is forgetful in daily activities
CRITERIA BY DSM-V
HYPERACTIVE-IMPULSIVE PRESENTATION:
• Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
• Has difficulty remaining seated
• Runs about or climbs excessively
• Difficulty engaging in activities quietly
• Acts as if driven by a motor
• Talks excessively
• Blurts out answers before questions have been completed
• Difficulty waiting or taking turns
• Interrupts or intrudes on others
 Age range for the on-set of ADHD

In making the
diagnosis, children
In people 17 and
should have six or
more of the inattentive older the DSM-5 Several above
symptoms were
or hyperactive- states they should
present prior to age 12
impulsive symptoms have at least five years
persisted for at least 6 symptoms.
month
 Comorbidity
In clinical settings comorbid disorders are frequent in individuals whose symptoms meet

the criteria for ADHD. Conduct disorder co-occurs in about a 1/4rth of children or

adolescents depending on the age and setting. Disruptive mood dis-regulation disorder

(lesser percentage of children)

S p e c i f i c l e a r n i n g d i s o r d e r, S u b s t a n c e u s e d i s o r d e r m o r e f r e q u e n t a m o n g a d u l t s w i t h

ADHD in general population. Anti social and other personality disorders may co-occur

with ADHD

O t h e r d i s o r d e r s t h a t m a y c o - o c c u r i n c l u d e o b s e s s i v e c o m p u l s i v e d i s o r d e r, t i c d i s o r d e r

a n d a u t i s m s p e c t r u m d i s o r d e r.
 What cause ADHD

Most scientists are not sure what really causes ADHD, but they
do know that it results from a combination of factors, especially
genes. Most scientists suggest that it derives from environmental
factors or nutrition that affect ADHD.
 What cause ADHD
• Genes: inherit from parents. Which shows that ADHD can run in the
family. Studies show that some children with ADHD carry a very specific
gene that has thinner brain tissue where areas of the brain are associated
with attention.
• Environmental Factors: Studies show that cigarette smoking and alcohol
drinking during pregnancy can cause the development of ADHD.
• Brain Injury: Some children who have brain injury might suffer from
ADHD symptoms afterward.
• Sugar: Studies show that when children are given sugar additives, it can
cause ADHD or make the symptoms worse.
  Risk factors….

• Premature birth
• Trauma to the head during delivery
• Low birth weight
• Excessive exposure to television
• Male child/boys are at greater risk
than female child/girls
 NEUROLOGICAL REASONS OF
ADHD
In ADHD the deficits are majorly seen in the prefrontal
cortex. Especially the part which deals with attentions. So
there the neurotransmitter majorly dopamine and
norepinephrine are imbalanced due to which a child cannot
focus on the task ahead.
 CONT.....

Many adults actually have this disease but don’t know

it. Most of the adults with the disorder have problems
with
• staying on task,
• staying organized,
• having problems getting to work on time
• sticking to a job.
 Study shows....

80%
ADHD has nothing to do with how smart your child is.
ADHD is estimated to affect about 3 to 7 out of 100 school-age
children in the United States.
About 70 out of 100 children with ADHD continue to have symptoms
during their teen years and about 50 out of 100 have symptoms into
adulthood.
 TREATMENT
ADHD can be treated using medicine or therapy, but a combination of both is
often best.
• Medicine
Medicines are not a permanent cure for ADHD but may help someone with the condition
concentrate better, be less impulsive, feel calmer, and learn and practice new skills.
• Therapy
As well as taking medicine, different therapies can be useful in treating ADHD in
children, teenagers, and adults.
• Psycho-education
Psycho-education means you or your child will be encouraged to discuss ADHD and its
effects. It can help children, teenagers and adults make sense of being diagnosed with
ADHD, and can help you to cope and live with the condition.
 TREATMENT
• Behavior therapy
Behavior therapy provides support for carers of children with ADHD and may involve teachers as
well as parents. Behavior therapy usually involves behavior management, which uses a system of
rewards to encourage your child to try to control their ADHD.
If child has ADHD, you can identify types of behavior you want to encourage, such as sitting at the
table to eat. Your child is then given some sort of small reward for good behavior.
For teachers, behavior management involves learning how to plan and structure activities, and to
praise and encourage children for even very small amounts of progress.
 TREATMENT
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

CBT can help people with ADHD with the “life impairments” they can
experience, such as time management and procrastination. It can also
help them manage irrational thought patterns
  Parenting skills training

If your child has an ADHD diagnosis, parenting skills training can give you
tools and techniques for understanding and managing their behaviors. Some
techniques may include:
• Immediate rewards.
Try using a point system or other means of immediate rewards for good
behavior or work.
• Timeouts.
Use a timeout when your child becomes too unruly or out of control. For some
children, being pulled out of a stressful or over-stimulating situation can help
them learn how to react more appropriately the next time a similar situation
comes up.
  Parenting skills training

• Togetherness.
Find time together every week to share a pleasurable or relaxing activity.
During this time together, you can look for opportunities to point out what
your child does well and praise their strengths and abilities.
• Striving for success.
Structure situations in a way that allows your child to find success. For
instance, you might allow them to have only one or two playmates at a time
so they don’t get overstimulated.
• Stress management.
Use methods such as meditation, relaxation techniques, and exercise to help
manage stress and such hyperactive impulsive behaviors.
Thank you!