ADHD Handout

March 1, 2016
Essential Must Know Facts
1. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder found in children and it usually lasts into adulthood.
Rationale: Teachers need to know this so that they can be able to help diagnose a child with
ADHD.
2. Students who have ADHD have trouble focusing and behaving. Rationale: This is essential for
teachers to know because this diagnosis can explain why students are having trouble and can
lead to better help for the student.
3. ADHD comes in three different types: Predominantly Inattentive Presentation where students do
not pay attention or follow rules, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation where the
student fidgets and cannot wait their turn, and Combined Presentation when both of these
behaviors are equal in a student. Rationale: Knowing this helps teachers to provide correct
modifications and accommodations for a student.
4. ADHD is usually caused by genetics. Rationale: This can help the teacher in comforting a
parent or knowing that the student cannot help their actions.
5. ADHD is treated with a combination of behavior therapy and medication. Rationale: Knowing
this as a teacher can help remind a student to take their medicine or to go to their therapy session.
6. ADHD can only be diagnosed if a person exhibits a large number of symptoms that are repetitive
and persistent.
7. Treatment and Prognosis
In most cases, the first line of treatment for ADHD is medication which helps children
concentrate and limit impulsiveness. Psychostimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and
dextroamphetamine (Adderall) are commonly used to stimulate the production of
neurotransmitters that regulate attention and impulse control.
Behavior therapy is sometimes used in combination with medication. Parent-child interaction
therapy and other forms of parent training teach parents how to cultivate good behaviors while
minimizing impulsive or inattentive ones. When a child is old enough, cognitive behavioral
therapy can help teach a child to control his behaviors by understanding how his thoughts and
feelings influence them.
Legal Definition
ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a problem involving lack of attention, overactivity, impulsivity, or a combination of these symptoms.
Laymans Definition
People with ADHD usually have problems with focusing and remembering what is said or done
around them. They may also have extra trouble sitting still or being quiet.
Contextualizing Details

 A student with ADHD is sitting in a read aloud lesson and the student struggles to focus on the
reading as they are distracted by the various other sounds and movements in the room; like the
heater, the clicking of a pen, a student playing with their shoestrings, people walking down the
hallway. They struggle to comprehend and analyze and remember the reading as a result of this
lack of focus.

Prevalence Rates
Approximately 11% of children 4-17 years of age (6.4 million) have been diagnosed with ADHD
as of 2011.
Prevalence of ADHD diagnosis varied substantially by state, from a low of 5.6% in Nevada to a
high of 18.7% in Kentucky.
Rates of ADHD diagnosis increased an average of 3% per year from 1997 to 2006 and an
average of approximately 5% per year from 2003 to 2011.
Boys (13.2%) were more likely than girls (5.6%) to have ever been diagnosed with ADHD.
Up to 30% of children and 25-40% of adults with ADHD have a co-existing anxiety disorder
Experts claim that up to 70% of those with ADHD will be treated for depression at some point in
their lives.

Warning Indicators
Inattention
Hyperactivity
Impulsivity
A common sign of ADHD is an inability to recognize other people's needs and desires
They may have outbursts of anger at inappropriate times or temper tantrums
All children may exhibit these behaviors, but if these behaviors are severe and occur frequently,
that is a warning sign for ADHD.
To be diagnosed with the disorder, a child must have symptoms for 6 or more months and to a
degree that is greater than other children of the same age.
Characteristics of Individuals of ADHD
Inattention-- Children with ADHD may...
Be easily distracted, miss details, forget things, and frequently switch from one activity to
another.
Have difficulty focusing on one thing.
Become bored with a task after only a few minutes, unless they are doing something enjoyable.
Have difficulty focusing attention on organizing and completing a task or learning something
new.
Have trouble completing or turning in homework assignments, often losing things (e.g., pencils,
toys, assignments) needed to complete tasks or activities.
Not seem to listen when spoken to.
Daydream, become easily confused, and move slowly.
Have difficulty processing information as quickly and accurately as others.
Struggle to follow instructions.
Hyperactivity-- Children with ADHD may

Fidget and squirm in their seats

Talk nonstop
Dash around, touching or playing with anything and everything in sight
Have trouble sitting still during dinner, school, and story time
Be constantly in motion
Have difficulty doing quiet tasks or activities
Impulsivity-- Children with ADHD may
Be very impatient
Blurt out inappropriate comments, show their emotions without restraint, and act without regard
for consequences
Have difficulty waiting for things they want or waiting their turns in games
Often interrupt conversations or others' activities

Other Health Impairments

Asthma
Diabetes
Cystic Fibrosis
AIDS
Cancer
Teachers need to know how to interact with students who have these other health impairments
and how to best help each of them with their personal needs.

References
"ADHD Law & Legal Definition." US Legal. US Legal, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.
<http://definitions.uslegal.com/a/adhd>.
"Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder." National Institutes of Health. National Institute of
Mental Health, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.

<http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorderadhd/index.shtml#part_145447>.
"Facts About ADHD." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, 06 Jan. 2016. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.
<http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html>.