Chapter 6: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Overview

• affects nearly 5 percent of children and 2.5 percent of adults in population surveys of most cultures

• Symptoms of ADHD lay the foundation for problems that can become both learning and behavioral issues,

Description

• symptoms of disorganization, hyperactivity-impulsivity, overactivity, inability to sit still or difficulty with waiting, impulsive behavior, and other behaviors must be atypical given the child’s or adolescent’s age

• any six of the nine descriptors in the Inattention category, six of nine symptoms in the Hyperactivity-Impulsivity category, or a combination of six symptoms need to be present to make a diagnosis of ADHD

• Hyperactivity-Impulsivity category also requires six or more of the associated symptoms to be present for at least six months

Baseline Functionig

An intelligence test, such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children or the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, can provide normed scores to determine where the child or adolescent is relative to the population, and an achievement test, such as the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test for children, can assess grade-level functioning to rule out specific learning disabilities in reading, writing, or math.

Behavior Rating Scales

• Child Behavior Checklist

• Teacher Report Form

• wanson, Nolan and Pelham Questionnaire (SNAP-IV-C) Teacher and Parent Rating Scale assesses ADHD

Teacher Report Form

teachers evaluate behavior, adaptive functioning, and academic skill

Child Behavior Checklist

a battery of questions related to interests in the area of sports, hobbies, and academic subjects and questions about school problems, followed by a 113-item questionnaire that addresses behavioral and medical information

Treatment

• psychotherapy and medication

• Behavioral interventions can help children and adolescents develop social skills

• Typically used with medication