What is ADHD? ADHD is short for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. According to www.webmd.com ADHD is a “chronic condition marked by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and sometimes impulsivity” (ADHD in Children Health Center, n.d.). ADHD starts when you are a child and then leads into adulthood, 66% of children that are diagnosed with ADHD as a child ends up having it as an adult as well (ADHD in Children Health Center, n.d.). The symptoms of ADHD does differ from person to person; however, there are three basic types of ADHD, each identified by the symptoms including hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. The first type is primarily inattentive with the symptoms including inattention, disorganization, and distraction.
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George Still, M.D., talked at several lectures where he described “the lack of moral control among children without noted physical impairments” (Rowland, A.S., 2002). In the past the mental illness has had many different names from minimal brain damage syndrome, hyperkinetic reaction of childhood, minimal brain dysfunction, and attention deficit disorder (Rowland, A.S., 2002). “Early attempts to link attention deficits and behavioral disturbances to brain dysfunction were shaped by the experience of the encephalitis epidemic of 1917-1918” (Rowland, A.S., 2002). The kids that survived the epidemic showed subsequent issues in hyperactivity, personality changes, and learning difficulties (Rowland, A.S., 2002). Many years have been spent in researching ADHD in the attempt to identify it’s etiology, but yet still no single cause has been found (Rowland, A.S., 2002). While there is not laboratory testing that can be done to diagnosis ADHD, there are questionnaires that are given to parents and teachers. This, at this time, is the only true way to diagnosis ADHD. While the exact prevalence of ADHD is not known, this seems to stem from conflicting studies that have been done. While the research is very sensitive as into who was asked what and furthermore how that information was combined. While literature reviews reports differences in the prevalence, it is clear that the true prevalence is unknown. Three different studies that were published in major journals indicated that the prevalence of ADHD anywhere between 1.7%-17.8%, 3%-6%, and 4%-12% (Rowland, A.S., 2002). So as you can see the true prevalence is still not know. Furthermore according to DSM-IV the prevalence of ADHD is anywhere between 3%-5% in school-aged children (Rowland, A.S., 2002). While evidence suggests that there is a biological link to ADHD, the true cause
George Still, M.D., talked at several lectures where he described “the lack of moral control among children without noted physical impairments” (Rowland, A.S., 2002). In the past the mental illness has had many different names from minimal brain damage syndrome, hyperkinetic reaction of childhood, minimal brain dysfunction, and attention deficit disorder (Rowland, A.S., 2002). “Early attempts to link attention deficits and behavioral disturbances to brain dysfunction were shaped by the experience of the encephalitis epidemic of 1917-1918” (Rowland, A.S., 2002). The kids that survived the epidemic showed subsequent issues in hyperactivity, personality changes, and learning difficulties (Rowland, A.S., 2002). Many years have been spent in researching ADHD in the attempt to identify it’s etiology, but yet still no single cause has been found (Rowland, A.S., 2002). While there is not laboratory testing that can be done to diagnosis ADHD, there are questionnaires that are given to parents and teachers. This, at this time, is the only true way to diagnosis ADHD. While the exact prevalence of ADHD is not known, this seems to stem from conflicting studies that have been done. While the research is very sensitive as into who was asked what and furthermore how that information was combined. While literature reviews reports differences in the prevalence, it is clear that the true prevalence is unknown. Three different studies that were published in major journals indicated that the prevalence of ADHD anywhere between 1.7%-17.8%, 3%-6%, and 4%-12% (Rowland, A.S., 2002). So as you can see the true prevalence is still not know. Furthermore according to DSM-IV the prevalence of ADHD is anywhere between 3%-5% in school-aged children (Rowland, A.S., 2002). While evidence suggests that there is a biological link to ADHD, the true cause