Attention Deficit Disorder

Melissa Homakie, Sarah Keenan

Haley Martin, Kristina Morris

Sarah Keenan Kristina Morris

Melissa Homakie Haley Martin

ADD or ADHD?“Official” clinical diagnosis is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD

ADD used as generic term for all typ0es of ADHD

Basically talking about the same thing, whether you say ADD or ADHD

ADD affects approximately 5% of children and adolescents and 2% or adults

Impacts about 2 students in every classroom across America

DefinitionADD is a diagnostic label given to children and adults displaying certain characteristic behaviors over a period of time. The most common core features include:

Inattention/distractibilityImpulsivityHyperactivityBoredom *

To meet diagnostic criteria:Behaviors must continue for at least 6 monthsProblems apparent before age of 7Impairment from symptoms present in 2 more more settings

Common SymptomsFailing to give close attention to details or making careless mistakes

Difficulty sustaining attention to tasks

Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly

Failing to follow instructions carefully and completely

Losing or forgetting important things

Feeling restless- fidgeting with hands and feet or squirming

Running or climbing excessively

Talks excessively, blurts out answers

Difficulty awaiting turn* Nature and severity of symptoms varies widely between cases

* 1/3 of those with ADD do not have hyperactivity component

Effects on EducationClassroom setting probably the worst possible setting for ADD children

•Many distractions

•Told to sit still and not talk

•Need to pay attention to boring, repetitive worksheets, etc.

•Need to keep on task until work is finished

Many students “hit a wall”

Continual struggles

•Attention Deficit Disorder and Ritalin have become almost synonymous. (Dexedrine, Ritalin, and Cylert)

•Children do not out grow ADD symptoms, so other methods of treating ADD besides medically must be used.

•Maintain a healthy diet…encourage fruits and vegetables and eliminate caffeine and sweets. Get proper rest and exercise daily!

• Teachers and parents need to deal with and work on improving children’s attention skills, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

• Effective reinforcement systems need to be found.• Stop and think before they answer or begin work.• Appropriate behavior modeled by adults.• Ear plugs!!!

                                                                                       

Classroom Techniques for Students with ADD/ADHD…

General classroom teachers being faced with increasing responsibilities for students with ADD

At first, teachers are likely to feel burdened, overwhelmed and unconfident in tackling ADD

Many proactive steps teachers can take to help prevent the problem from becoming overwhelming.

Top 10 Ways to Alter a General Education

Classroom in ways that Support the Strengths of

Children with ADD!!!

# 10…Incorporate movement

into classroom life, in the form of role play and other

active curricular responses.

Arrange Classroom in a traditional row-seating

pattern

# 9…

# 8…Student with ADD should be positioned in the front row, where he/she is less

likely to be distracted.

Remove child from potentially distracting areas, such as near windows or pencil

sharpeners

# 7…

# 6…Surround child with ADD with

well-behaved, attentive classmates as desk neighbors.

# 5…Because children with ADD are often self-conscious about their

need to take medication, provide children with a secure place to keep and take pills.

# 4…Teach students with ADD to

break down assignments into smaller, less overwhelming

components.

# 3…For over stimulated children,

designate a stimuli reduced area of the room, where a child who is fidgety and overly aroused

can complete his or her assigned task.

# 2…To address the hyperactive

child’s reluctance to tackle fine-motor skills, create small

interactive centers requiring fine muscle control (art center, map

skills area) in the classroom setting.

# 1…View and treat the student

with ADD as a whole person, and not a person with ADD, or

an “ADDer” but a complete and unique individual.

Devin…

Devin at East Academy