ADHDADD/ADHD

AND THE GIFTED STUDENT

Attention deficit (hyperactivity)

DisorderAD

HD/A

DDWhat isit? AD

HD/A

DDWho can

have it? AD

HD/A

DDHow can they

achieve their

potential?

These twice exceptional students may have

LAYERS of abilities and disabilities that can hide

behind each other, deceiving the most

discerning observer.

1 Hyperactivivity

2 Impulsivity

3 Inattentiveness

Just what is attention

deficit hyperactivity

disorder?There are

three primary

characteristics of

the ADHD student

Hyperactivity Difficulty

Staying Seated

Constant Moveme

nt

Excessive Talking

Fidgeting

Bouncing, Jumping

Difficulty waiting for

turns

Interrupting

conversations or

activities

Blurting out answers

Acting recklessly

Not considering consequenc

e

Impulsivity

InattentivenessEasily

DistractedDoes Not

Listen

Difficulty Following Directions

Does Not Complete

Tasks

Problems with

Organization

ADHD OR NOT --How can I tell?

ADHD/ADD Signs & symptoms

appear by age 7 Symptoms present

at home, school, and play

Symptoms cause underachievement at school

Mistaken Identity

Symptoms occur only in certain situations

Medical conditions, stress, or psychological disorders

Often confused with learning disability

Children with ADD/ADHD may be…Inattentive, but

not hyperactive or impulsive

Hyperactive and impulsive, but

able to pay attention

Hyperactive, Inattentive, and

Impulsive(most common)

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) . . .

Approximately 11% of children 4-17 years of age (6.4 million) have been diagnosed with ADHD

The percentage of children with an ADHD diagnosis continues to increase

Boys (13.2%) are more likely than girls (5.6%) to ever be diagnosed with ADHD.

The average age of ADHD diagnosis was 7 years of age, but children reported by their parents as having more severe ADHD were diagnosed earlier.

MYTHS ABOUT ADD/ADHD Myth #1: All kids with ADD/ADHD

are hyperactive. Fact: Some children with ADD/ADHD

are hyperactive, but many others with attention problems are not. Children with ADD/ADHD who are inattentive, but not overly active, may appear to be spacey and unmotivated.

Myth #2: Kids with ADD/ADHD can never pay attention.

Fact: Children with ADD/ADHD are often able to concentrate on activities they enjoy. But no matter how hard they try, they have trouble maintaining focus when the task at hand is boring or repetitive.

Myth #3: Kids with ADD/ADHD could behave better if they wanted to.

Fact: Children with ADD/ADHD may do their best to be good, but still be unable to sit still, stay quiet,

or pay attention. They may appear disobedient, but that doesn’t mean they’re acting out on purpose. Myth #4: Kids will eventually grow

out of ADD/ADHD. Fact: ADD/ADHD often continues

into adulthood, so don’t wait for your child to outgrow the problem. Treatment can help your child learn to manage and minimize the symptoms.

Myth #5: Medication is the only treatment option for ADD/ADHD

Fact: Medication is often prescribed for attention deficit disorder, but it might not be the best option for your child. Effective treatment for ADD/ADHD also includes education, behavior therapy, support at home and school, exercise, and proper nutrition.

Children with ADD or ADHD: -are often extremely creative and imaginative -are frequently great problem-solvers -can be very observant and discerning -may consider options and be very flexible /spontaneous -are enthusiastic and interested in lots of things -have lively personalities with energy and drive -may be gifted intellectually or artistically

AND THE GOOD NEWS

IS . . .

Trying to help is sometimes like --

Trying to fit a

round peg. . .

. . . into a squarehole !

leading to many frustrations on the part of teachers, parents, and students

HELP IS POSSIBLE!

#1: DON’T WAIT! GET PROFESSIONAL HELP. THE SOONER THE CHILD IS DIAGNOSED, THE SOONER TREATMENT CAN BEGIN!

#2: TREATMENT OPTIONS INCLUDE THERAPY, DIET AND EXERCISE PLAN, AND MODIFYING HOME AND SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS TO MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS.

#3: PARENTS, TEACHERS, DOCTOR, AND THERAPISTS ALL WORK TOGETHER TO DESIGN A TREAT MENT PLAN THAT MEETS THE CHILD’S SPECIFIC NEEDS.

BEHAVIORTHERAPY

TREATMENT TAKES DIFFERENT SHAPES . . .

PARENTEDUCATION

SOCIAL SUPPORT

SPECIALIZED

TRAINING

MEDICATION

STRATEGIES

. . . BUT WITH EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER, ALL THESE PARTS

CAN MAKE A WHOLE!

SUCCESS

REFERENCESBarkley, R.A., (1989). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In E. Marsh &

R.A. Barkley (eds.). Treatment of childhood disorders. NY: Guilford

Press.

Baum, S., Renzulli, J. S., & Hebert, T. P. (1995). The prism metaphor: A new paradigm for reversing underachievement (CRS95310). Storrs, CT: University of Connecticut, The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented.

Jordan, D. R. (1992). Attention deficit disorder (2nd ed.). Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.