Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Essay

There are many pediatric impairments and disorders that are treatable within a physical therapist’s scope of practice, such as Cerebral Palsy or Down syndrome. However, what happens when a child is being treated, who also has a diagnosis that cannot be treated with physical therapy, like Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder? It is our job to research the diagnosis and learn as much as we can, in order to give the best possible care to the patient. Knowing about the pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, how it is diagnosed, and how it is treated will greatly increase our ability to provide encouraging and effective therapy.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder of inattention and distractibility, with or without the addition of hyperactivity. There are three main forms of ADHD described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) of the American Psychiatric Association: inattentive; hyperactive-impulsive; and combined1. Inattentive signs include trouble paying attention to details, a tendency to make careless errors in school, difficulty staying focused on tasks, possible listening problems, or difficulty following instructions. …show more content…
In order to do so, the therapist has to be knowledgeable about the patient and their medical diagnoses. Even though ADHD treatment is not in the physical therapy scope of practice, it is important to know about the diagnosis, the pathophysiology, the signs and symptoms, and how it is treated. This way we can work with the patient without the presence of another diagnosis getting in the way. Looking up research is also beneficial; a therapist may find out ways their own treatment can improve multiple aspects of the patient’s quality of life. In terms of the research discussed before, even though physical therapists do not treat ADHD, there is new evidence that exercise may aid in the control of