ATTENTION-DEFICIT / HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER
(AD/HD)


DEFINITION


AD/HD is a neurologically-based, chemical disorder that impacts the ability to attend to stimuli which are important (inattention); determine which external stimuli are relevant or not relevant (distractibility); reflect before acting (impulsivity); and control motor activity levels (hyperactivity).



TYPES


While some students with AD/HD experience hyperactivity, others do not. As a result, people with this disorder are classified as having AD/HD Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type, AD/HD Predominantly Inattentive Type, or AD/HD Combined Type.



CAUSES


AD/HD is not caused by poor parenting, too much television, or excess sugar in the diet. Rather, genetic factors are predominantly responsible for the development of the disorder. Environmental causes such as difficulty during pregnancy, prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol, premature birth, low birth weight, high levels of lead in the body, and postnatal injury to frontal regions of the brain also play a causal role (http://www.chadd.org/fs/fs7.htm).



PREVALENCE AND COURSE


Three to seven percent of school-aged children and two to five percent of adults have been diagnosed with AD/HD. Boys are three times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with the disorder, but it is equally as prevalent in both males and females (Barkley, 1998). Males are diagnosed more often because they exhibit the symptom of hyperactivity more than females; however, ADHD can exist without hyperactivity. Only twenty to thirty-five percent of people with AD/HD outgrow the symptoms in adulthood (Barkley, Fischer, Fletcher & Smallish, 2001).



TREATMENT


While there is no cure for AD/HD, there are treatments that can effectively assist with its management. Stimulant medications address problems with arousal level by acting on the neurotransmitter imbalance in the brain. Commonly prescribed medications include Ritalin, Adderall, Dexedrine, and Cylert. Education and coaching are also very important components of treatment. People with AD/HD need to learn the facts about the disorder and learn about effective treatment options. They should also enlist the help of a coach who can help them set and achieve short- and long-term goals, get and stay organized, follow through with appointments and tasks, and structure their environment.



CHARACTERISTICS AND SYMPTOMS

  • Trouble attending to details and makes careless mistakes
  • Has difficulty sustaining attention
  • Doesn't seem to listen when spoken to
  • Doesn't follow through on instructions and struggles to finish tasks
  • Has difficulty managing time (is often late)
  • Has difficulty organizing materials (often loses or misplaces belongings)
  • Dislikes or avoids tasks that require sustained mental effort (reading)
  • Is easily distracted by extraneous stimuli (visual and auditory)
  • Forgets appointments, assignments, etc.
  • Is often restless, fidgets or squirms. Has trouble sitting still. Feels agitated.
  • Is often "on the go" or seems "driven by a motor"
  • Often talks excessively
  • Often blurts out answers before questions have been completed
  • Has difficulty waiting for an outcome or delaying gratification
  • Interrupts others or intrudes on conversations


ASSOCIATED FEATURES

  • May engage in high risk or thrill-seeking activities
  • May have difficulty regulating emotions (may have a temper)
  • May experience sleep problems
  • May attempt to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs
  • May also have learning disabilities
  • Is usually very intelligent
  • Often very creative with great ideas
  • May have low self-esteem or self-confidence
  • May be very outgoing, charismatic, and charming
  • May have several traffic violations or accidents


CAMPUS RESOURCES



ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Books:
  • Patricia O. Quinn, M.D.: ADD and the College Student
  • Kathleen G. Nadeau, Ph. D.: Survival Guide for College Students with ADD or LD
  • Edward Hallowell, M.D., John J. Ratey, M.D.: Driven to Distraction
Links:

A-LEC HOME PAGE

SMU HOME PAGE