ADHD
Description: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder is a common brain disorder that affects 5-8 percent of children. Attention deficit is a disorder which the children can’t sit still, can’t pay attention for long, and don’t seem to fit into school or other structured activities. The ADD/HD is divided in to three categories: inattentive type, hyperactive type and combined type. The causes to ADHD are: genetic inheritance, slow brain development and poor prenatal care. The treatments are behavioral and medical interventions. The behavioral strategies are being consistent, using positive reinforcement; problem solving and communication skills. Some medical interventions are with medications. The common medication used is Ritalin. The educational approach is behavior management.
YouTube Video
January 25th, 2009 at 9:43 am
I”VE HEARD THAT ADHD CHILDREN ARE ON MEDICATION , WHICH ONE IS BENEFICIAL TO HELP MY STUDENTS WHO ARE LISTED AS ADHD PROBLEM CHILD.
January 26th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
For new teachers, how do you handle a student with ADHD and still be able to assist and focus to the rest of the class?
January 31st, 2009 at 5:31 pm
CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT TIME RELEASED MEANS IN MEDICINE IS?IM STUDYING ABOUT ADHD AND THERE MEDS THEY TAKE AND WHAT IT DOES FOR THEM.
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:34 pm
I am not an expert, and I wouldn’t advise any teacher to think they can prescribe any medications for ADHD. Only a Dr. can diagnose and treat those who have ADHD Symptoms. There are about six symptoms that need to be consistant in more than one setting. Only after gathering comparitive information from several sources such as school, caregiver, and parents will the Dr. consider how the childs behavior differs from children of the same age range. Treatment should only be given from your health care provider and may include Medication and behavioral therapy. There is no single treatment best for all children. Side effects may vary due to the size and weight of the child and the dose of medication. The most common drugs are psychostimualants or stimulants which include: Ritalin, Adderal XR, and Concerta. A non stimulant medication for ADHD is Strattera. Some medications have (immediate-release) short acting and others are intermediate-acting(time-release) in their results.
February 13th, 2009 at 9:26 am
I’M NOT AN EXPERT BUT WE ARE ALLOWED TO ASK ABOUT THE MEDICATION I DON’T PRESCRIBE MEDICINE , NOT TO WORRY IM NOT A DOCTOR . IM SIMPLY STUDYING THE BEST FOR KIDS BECAUSE I’VE SEEN TOO MANY REACTIONS TO BE CONCERN ABOUT WHAT IS BEST TO TAKE IS ALL IM ASKING.
February 13th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I think every classroom should have an extra teacher to help out with ADHD students, it could be good for all the students in the class without any disterbance.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
If they are going to be children that have ADHD included in general ed. classrooms, their has to be special ed. teacher working side by side with the general ed. teacher. To much to handle alone by a teacher who has to think of the needs of the other children as well as having the responsibility to try and teach and discipline an ADHD child. Expertise needs to be provided in situations like this.
Im not sure how I feel about medication use in the classroom however if its advised by the teacher and the school supports her decision and parents are willing to provide it with the doctor recommending it then it should be looked into.
February 15th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
As what I have seen in dual immersion classes, there are student teachers who are TAs. Would student teachers who are heading into the special education field help in the same way?
February 18th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
This answer is to Laura Navarro’s question about time release in medication, time released in medicine means the medicine is released over a period of time and not all at once.
February 18th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
I do not think children with ADD/HD should be on medications. I think doctors, parents, and teachers should help the children learn by behavior modification. Changing the children’s diet, exercise and sleeping patterns can also help the children. Some children are just more hyper than others and prescribed medication is not the answer.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
I agree with Sarah, its true not all the children need to on medication when they have ADD/HD. Parent and teacher need to be more involved and help the Childs by maybe finding different teaching techniques. I also believe that all children are totally different some are more active and need to be doing some types of activity, to stay occupy. For instant, I knew a boy when I used to work for the YMCA that had ADHD and didn’t need all the medicine that he was on. I think that he did even better without the medicine, sometimes it made him hyper.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I think that is very important to have an extra teacher to help children with ADHD because this can be the key from keeping them away from medication. I think that children will do much better is the extra teacher.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I agree with the no meds approach to treating ADHD, however I have a friend that has severe ADHD and it is literally impossible for him to function and complete normal tasks without his meds. But I do think that many times doctors and parents take the easy way out and start giving children meds without trying to work with the child using other medthods of behavior modification.
February 28th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
My wifes child is adhd and she didn’t think she could put her daughter on ritalin like the teachers suggested. She thought the teachers were using it as a scapegoat to the root of the problem .The child is now 21 and made it to adulthood with out meds so you might have to work harder to control the child but meds free, you can be successful without meds. So i agree with sarah , you dont have to be medicated to survive a adhd child.
April 5th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
I didn’t know that exposure to lead and poverty had something to do with ADHD. I don’t agree on giving medication for young children i think that they are different ways on helping them keep on task.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
I agree with Sarah Maravilla,Britney Ortega,Guadalupe,That medication is not only the solution or the only correct solution. We have more researches in twentyth century, we can help and try to put them in general education class and obviously get eztra help in classrooms with teachers who are willingly coperating and colloborating with classroom teachers and children!s famalis to educate them and built relationships to further our work with ADHD. Prevention like nature, taking children more outdoors or create nature like outdoors cabe very beneficial. The more children are missing nature on day to day basis we are hearing ADHD issues. Again lets think about what the children be undergoing when we can!t even deal with it. The more we will change our prospectives towards ADHD the better supportive we can be to children with ADHD. Children with ADHD need Structure. They need their enviroment to structure externally what they can!t structure internally. They need checklists, previews directions repetion reminders and limits. Above all need a Consistent environment, this helps in reinforcing rules and development of self control. Specify acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. More importantly focus on catching the child being good. Lastly reward desireable behaviors through praise, privileges or stickers.
September 9th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I have been teaching high school for 13 years and have seen many kids with ADHD. As a teacher, I would NEVER tell parents that I thought their kid should be on a drug. Teachers that feel the need to do this should probably earn a medical degree first. My nephew was just taken off Ritalin. While his progress in school improved dramatically while taking the drug, he suffered from headaches, nausea, and weight loss. His doctor was very clear that Ritalin would stunt his growth. Is any academic success worth this?
September 10th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
In response to Jennifer’s question regarding academic success the answer is definitely no. Both my nephew and godson were put on Ritalin when they were 7 yrs. old. It was very sad to watch them become “zombies” as soon as they had taken their meds. While on Ritalin they both had improved attention spans and fared well in school. Both of their parents decided when they were 8 yrs. old to take them off their meds and try different diets, positive reinforcement and games to get them to concentrate longer. They both did very well in school, and now are functioning very well in the adult world. Ritalin is not the answer!
September 18th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
i learned so much about ADHD in just that one paragraph.
i work with these children all the time and sometimes they really use up all your energy through out the day, but there great to work with.
i automaticaly see the difference when a student is on medication, some have different effects. some are just so with drawn from everything, like if they had no personality and others do great on it such as being on task and doing all their work.
September 19th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
I don’t think children with ADHD should be on medication. I have worked with children who have been medicated and it is very sad to see them act and look like zombies, especially when they are so young (I work with preschool age children). I remember one little boy in particular, who would just sit in one place, while he was on medication, and stare at the other children in the class, at the toys, at the food, at things around him, but without any reaction. Fortunately his parents decided to take him off the medication and opted for intense behavior modification theraphy at home and school. which was very beneficial to the child.
September 20th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
These are the best children to work with because all they need is for someone to be on the same level as them and to understand what they are going through. It’s all about adapting to them and supporting them in every area.
September 26th, 2009 at 1:01 am
I on the other half, am not entirely sure if a child should or should not be on medication for their ADD/HD. I mean, I can see both sides of the argument, where maybe giving said child medicine can be beneficial to their learning experience or just the opposite where giving a child this medicine can be harmful to them.
Personally, as much as I love my nephew just as he is, it breaks my heart that he can’t pay attention when my sister or I try to teach him something as elementary as his abc’s or his 123′s. It breaks my heart even more when he intentionally bangs his head against walls and laughs at it as if it feels good or it’s fun.
I think that maybe medicine or a different school or both would benefit him greatly.
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:34 am
i think it is a great relief to know that there is hope for the child in the future now does a child who is diagnosed with ADHD have to take the medication for teh rest of their lives? or does the intake reduce as time progresses? i would think the hypecactivity is more severe as a child since children are typically very anergetic, and as they grow older their energy is lessened.
April 30th, 2010 at 12:20 am
This video provided a neat and quick intro to ADHD. I always presumed ADHD was over diagnosed instead of under diagnosed, but I guess there is a large spectrum of which children can fit into. It’s also interesting to learn that the use of prescribed drugs for ADHD has decreased the later use and abuse of illicit drugs and alcohol. I would like to learn more about some of the behavioral techniques used to treat ADHD. I wonder how old this video is and how dated its information is. I’ve heard of children having trouble getting off Ritalin once they become adults. Does anyone know how difficult such a transition normal is? I assume it varies from person to person.