What is attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?
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Behavioral condition that makes it
difficulties to pay attention and
focuses on tasks.
Begins in early childhood and can
continue into adulthood.
If not recognized and treated, it
can cause problems at home,
school, and work and with
relationships
Signs of ADHD
Inattention
Impulsivity
Hyperactivity
Signs of both hyperactivity and
attention problems. This is called
combined type ADHD.
Hyperactivity and impulsivity and
fewer problems with attention, it is
called predominantly hyperactiveimpulsive type ADHD.
Problems with inattention and
fewer problems with hyperactivity
and impulsivity. This is called
predominantly inattentive type
ADHD.
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Disorders that may accompany ADHD
• Learning Disabilities
• Tourette Syndrome
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• Conduct Disorder
• Anxiety and Depression
• Bipolar Disorder
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Causes of ADHD
Tends to run in families.
Studies have also shown a possible
link between alcohol and tobacco
use during pregnancy and ADHD.
ADHD Diagnosis
ADHD is often diagnosed between
6 to 12 years of age.
Children in this age group are
most easily diagnosed because
symptoms become more
noticeable in school.
It is more difficult to diagnose
under age 6.
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ADHD is diagnosed by first having
a thorough medical examination to
rule out other conditions. An
evaluation by a pediatrician, family
doctor, psychologist, or child and
adolescent psychiatrist uses
specific criteria established by the
American Psychiatric Association
(APA).
Observations of a child's behavior
documented by parents, classroom
teachers, and others who have
regular contact with the child are
evaluated.
Diagnostic Scales
Conners Parent and Teachers
Questionnaires
– Gold standard survey, but
copyrighted and
expensive
– (1985)
Psychopharmacology
Bulletin 21:816
– Available from MultiHealth Systems: 800-4563003
ADHD Rating Scale-IV
– Dupaul (1998) ADHD
Rating Scale IV, Guilford
Barkley (1991) ADHD workbook,
Guilford Press
– Scales and Surveys for
ADHD evaluation
– May be photocopied
freely
Achenbach Behavioral Checklist
– Available from (802) 6568313
ADD-II Comprehensive Teacher
Rating Scale (ACTeRS)
– Available from
MetriTech: (800) 7474868
Child Behavior Rating Scale
– Available from Western
Psych. Resources: 800648-8857
Copeland Symptom Checklist for
ADD
– Available from Resurgens
Press: (404) 457-2004
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Treatment Options
Medication
Behavioral therapy along with
medication.
Support at home and at school
and counseling.
Doctors recommend that
children be closely followed
after they begin to take
medications for Side effects
Types of ADHD
Primarily Inattentive Type
(314.00)
Primarily HyperactiveImpulsive Type (314.01)
Combined Type (314.01)
Not otherwise specified (314.9)
Classroom Interventions
Accommodations
• Goal is to provide an environment that
best fits the child’s needs.6
• Be proactive.6
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Provide a clear written schedule of
daily activities and use it as a routine.6
Scheduling
• Schedule more challenging activities in
the morning.4
• Schedule un-preferred activities prior
to preferred activities. 6
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Physical Arrangement
Seat child within close proximity to
teacher.6
Avoid seating child next to doorways,
windows or high traffic areas.2
Arranging desks in rows works best for
independent activities.6
For group work, pair student’s with
individuals that provide good
behavioral models.6
Provide an office area for completing
independent work.
If appropriate, provide a stand-up
desk.6
Classwork
• Break assignments up into shorter tasks
and provide immediate feedback.6
• Allow for peer tutoring (both ways) 6
• Allow student to self pace.11
• Provide auditory cues that remind
students of appropriate behaviors and to
stay on task.3
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External Reinforcements
• Provide tangible rewards (Brock, para.
23)
• Positive and negative consequences need
to be immediate and frequent.5
• Actively monitor behavior.6
• Give reprimands privately and calmly. 6
• Reprimands should be brief. 6
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Token Economy
• Method where students receive tokens
that they can turn in for prizes or
privileges
• Don’t set standards too high since we
want the student to earn the tokens
• Choose privileges and prizes important to
the student
• (Reid, 1999)
References
1.
2.
Brock, S. Classroom-Based Interventions
for Students with Attentiondeficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Retrieved
October 9, 2005, Sacramento State,
College of Education Website:
http://66.102.7.104/u/sacstate?q=cache:7
MN6km3bRywJ:edweb.csus.edu/depart
ments/eds/schoolpsych/downloads/adhd
_inter.doc+ADHD+Interventions&hl=en
&ie=UTF-8
3.
Bender, W. N. & Mathes, M. Y.
(1995). Students with ADHD in
the inclusive classroom: A
hierarchical approach to strategy
selection. Intervention in School &
Clinic, 30, 226-234.
4.
Heins, E. D., Lloyd, J. W., & Hallahan,
D. P. (1986). Cued and noncued
self-recording of attention to task.
Behavior Modification, 10, 235-254.
5.
Pfiffner, L. J. & Barkley, R. A. (1998).
Treatment of ADHD in school
settings. In R. A. Barkley (Ed.),
Attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder: A handbook for diagnosis
and treatment (2d ed) (pp. 458-490).
New York: Guilford.
6.
Pfiffner, L. J., & Barkley, R. A. (1990).
Educational placement and
classroom management. In R. A.
Barkley, Attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder: A handbook
for diagnosis and treatment (pp. 498539). New York: Guilford.
7.
Reid, R., (1999)., Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder: Effective
Methods for the Classroom. Focus
on Exceptional Children, 32 (4),
1-19.
8.
Reiff, M. I., & Tippins, S. (2004). The
American Academy of Pediatrics; A
Complete Authoritative Guide. The
American Academy of Pediatrics.
9.
Sears, W., & Thompson, L. (1998). The
ADD Book. New Understanding,
New Approaches to Parenting Your
Child. New York: Little, Brown &
Company.
Home Interventions
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Make simple house rules
Make a schedule
Structure day to fit your child
Keep an assignment book and a journal
Decide on place conductive to study
Get child involved in extracurricular
activities based on child’s interest
Plan monthly outing with friends
Catch child doing something good
Focus on efforts, not grades
Time-in technique
Give household responsibilities
Counseling
Talk with child’s teacher
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD) . Retrieved
October 9, 2005, Yahoo Health
Website:
http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/
hw166083.
10. The American Academy of Family
Physicians. (2005, October). Online
websiteAvailable WWW:
familydoctor.org/118.xml
11. West, K. (2005, October). Learning 4
Life: Living with ADD/ADHD.
Online websiteAvailable WWW:
http://www.lessontutor.com/kw1.
html
12. Whalen, C. K., & Henker, B. (1985).
The social worlds of hyperactive
(ADDH) children. Clinical
Psychology Review, 5, 447-478.