Description
Primer text from The College of William & Mary
ADHD is one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions of children (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2015).
In a 2016 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, scientists found that 6.1 million children aged 2-17 years living in the U.S. had been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is similar to previous en
- Ages 6-11: Approximately 2.4 million children
- Ages 12-17: Approximately 3.3 million children
The diagnostic term attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) refers to individuals who display patterns of inattention, impulsivity, and overactive behavior that interfere with daily functioning (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013).
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) V (APA, 2013) criteria for diagnosing ADHD list
three types of ADHD and the accompanying characteristics.
Predominantly inattentive type.
The student may:
o submit inaccurate or incomplete work,
o have difficulty attending to conversations, activities, or tasks,
o be easily distracted,
o have difficulty following directions,
o frequently lose materials, and/or
o have difficulty organizing tasks and materials.
Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type.
The student may:
o Appear to be in constant motion,
o frequently fidget or move in his or her seat,
o become restless during quiet activities,
o leave his or her seat when expected to remain seated,
o interrupt others and classroom activities,
o talk excessively, and/or
o fail to follow classroom procedures (e.g., blurt out answers without raising hand).
Combined type.
The student may exhibit symptoms that include behaviors from both categories above.
In order for a student to be diagnosed with ADHD, symptoms must appear before age 12 and be exhibited across at least two settings. They must also have adverse effects on academic performance, occupational success, or social-emotional development (APA, 2013).
To add to the complexity of the diagnosis, children with ADHD are likely to have co-existing emotional, behavioral, developmental, learning, or physical conditions (Wolraich & DuPaul, 2010).
