Attention Deficit DisorderRegina Grant

Brief History of ADHD

1902-ADHD was first recognized as a disorder in 1902. A British doctor Dr. Still documented cases of impulsive behavior. He gave the disorder its first name, “Defect of Moral Control,” Despite this name, he believed that the disorder was a medical problem, not a spiritual defect.

1922-It was not until 1922 that ADHD symptoms were described and diagnosed as “Post-Encephalitic Behavior Disorder.”

1937-In 1937 stimulants were first used to treat children who exhibited signs of ADHD. This was introduced by one Dr. Charles Bradley.

1956-In 1956, Ritalin came on the market. It was used to treat children considered to be “hyperactive.”

1960-Throughout the 1960s, stimulants were increasingly used to treat hyperactive children. In the early part of the decade, the term “Minimal Brain Dysfunction” was used to describe the disorder, but this was changed to “Hyperkinetic Disorder of Childhood” in the later part of the decade.

Cont. Brief History

1970-In the 1970, more symptoms were recognized to go along with hyperactivity. These include impulsiveness, lack of focus, daydreaming, and other lack of focus type symptoms. “Impulsiveness” as a category was divided into three subtypes: verbal, cognitive, and motor impulsiveness. 1980-In 1980 the name “Attention Deficit Disorder” was invented by American Psychiatric Association.

1987-In 1987, the name was revised to “Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.”

1996-In 1996, Adderall was approved to treat ADHD.

1998-In 1998, the American Medical Association stated that ADHD was one of the most researched disorders, despite the fact that its cause is unknown.

Introduction

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD)-a disorder characterized by age-inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity.

ADHD currently a proper diagnosis, constituting the largest single reason children are referred to child mental health clinics.

ADHD symptoms may be mild, moderate, or severe.

Symptoms are considered mild when there are few, if any, in excess of those required for diagnosis and when there is little impairment in school and social functioning.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The evaluation process for making the diagnosis usually includes obtaining a through medical and social history through interviews with the parents, the child, and the child’s teacher; a complete

medical examination; observation

Learning Disabilities

Somewhere around 1-in-4 children with ADHD will also have a specific type or learning disability.

In preschool children, this often appears as a difficulty understanding certain sounds or words and/or difficulty in expressing oneself in words. In school age children, reading or spelling disabilities, problems writing, and arithmetic.

One specific type of reading disorder, dyslexia, is quite common. Reading disabilities affect up to 8 percent of elementary school children.

Sleep Disturbance

• Over half of all students with attention deficit have significant problems falling asleep or waking up. Consequently, many families have major battles every morning just trying to get the teenager up and ready for school on time.

• For occasional sleep problems, doctors may suggest taking Benadryl or melatonin.

• Doctors also may prescribe one of the several medicines to help with major sleep problems.

• Clonidine, Trazadone, and Zyprexa are commonly prescribed. Seroquel and Tofranil less often.

Possible Causes of Childhood ADHD

Genes: ADHD appears to have some type of genetic basis in the majority of cases, as a child with ADHD is four times as likely to have had a relative who was also diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.

At the moment researchers are investigating many different genes, particularly ones involved with the brain chemical dopamine.

-Sir Matthew Hale

Whatever the case, I find that loading my days with blocks of time devoted to many different activities provides me with the ability to focus on more things for more time. It seems a little

counter-intuitive to me at times--it would seem that someone unable to focus

would do better with more time to do the things that

need to be done. But I can't deny it: when my schedule is chock-full, it invigorates my mind and I'm actually able to focus more than when I have

gobs of time.

AdderallGeneric Name:

amphetamine and dextroamphetamine3-5 yrs old-2.5 mg daily, 6-yrs old-5mg once or twice daily, rare cases can

exceed to 40 mg.

Adderall contains a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. Amphetamines and detroamphetamine are central nervous system stimulants that affect chemicals in the brain and nervous that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control.

Side Effects: fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats, pain or burning when you urinate

taking more than usual, feeling of extreme happiness or sadness, numbness, tingling or strange sensations under your skin, dry mouth, anxiety, agitation, stomach pain

Adderall XRGeneric Name-amphetamine &

dextroamphetamine

Dosage: 5mg-30mgSide effects: fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats, pain or burning when your urinate, talk more than usual, feelings of extreme happiness, or sadness, numbness, tingling, or strange sensations under your skin, tremors, hallucinations, unusual wounds, or skin color changes (pale, red, or blue appearance in your fingers and toes.

Quillivant XRGeneric Name: methylphenidate

dosage: 6yrs-20mg, titrated weekly 10 to 20mg, has not been studied above 60mg

nervousness, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, weight loss, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or headache may occur.

Numbness/pain/skin color change/sensitivity to temperature in the fingers or toes, fast/pounding/irregular or heartbeat, mental/mood/behavior changes (such as agitation, aggression, mood swings, abnormal thoughts)

VyvanseGeneric name:lisdexamfetamineDosage:30mg once daily in the morning in patient 6 yrs or above. Dosage may be increase by 10mg or 20mg and the max is 70 mg

Side effects: nausea, dry mouth, loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, headache, nervousness, dizziness, trouble sleeping, sweating, weight loss, irritability, and restlessness may occur.Serious side effects: blurred vision, fast pounding/irregular heartbeat, mental/mood/behavior changes (such as agitation, aggression, mood swings, depression, hallucinations, abnormal thoughts/behavior)

ConcertaGeneric Name: methylphenidate

Dosage: 6-12 yrs-18mg-54mg/day, 13-17yrs-18mg-72mg/day,

18-65 yrs- 18 or 65mg/day or up to 72mg/day-tablet or extended release

Fast heartbeat-more common

Chest pain-less common, fever, joint pain, skin rash or hives

Rare-black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, blurred vision, convulsions, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin, muscle cramps, pinpoint red spots on the skin, uncontrolled vocal outbursts or tics, unusual bleeding or bruising

Incidence not known-confusion, feeling like surroundings are not real, depression

Art Therapy for Children with

ADHD

• The arts can be great vehicle in this endeavor. Engaging in creative activities such as art, music and dance have been shown to help children with ADHD calm down because it utilizes the part of the brain that controls emotions.

• When the emotions are under control, the focusing is much easier.

Playing Minecraft with ADHD

Minecraft is widely popular game, with a huge virtual world for children to explore, build and play in. With nearly set goals, players are free to set out and set their own objectives, mining out resources in order to construct the world as they please.

Minecraft’s free-form approach to gameplay can be quite challenging, and requires proper planning, good organization skills, and the ability to sustain effort and attention towards a goal.

My Two Sons-Five year Apart Twins

References

http://add.about.com/cs/addthebasics/a/history.htmhttp://www.joshweed.com/2010/02/inspirational-quote-for-adhd-sir.html

http://www.rxlist.com/adderall-drug/indications-dosage.htm

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/concerta-side-effects.html

http://www.colorsofplay.com/2012/02/art-therapy-for-children-with-adhd-and-anxiety-disorders/

learningworksforkids.com/2013/10/minecraft-executive-functioning-adhd-how-minecraft-can-help-with-adhd/