STUDENTS WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER
(ADHD)
Description and Significant Facts
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
are conditions in which children exhibit significant differences in the ability to pay
attention and to engage in active work compared to their normal peers
Children show lack of control in saying things, cannot wait for their turn and often
engage in dangerous activities
Common characteristic of children with learning disabilities
There is attention deficit when the child is not able to attend to a task expected of hid
or der age and grade level
Hyperactivity is present when the child engages in high rates of purposeless
movement
Impulsivity is displayed through inappropriate behavior
The essential feature of ADD/ADHD is a persistent pattern of a combination of
inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity and is more frequent and severe,
maladaptive and inconsistent with the developmental level of the child
First recognized as early as the mid-19th century
Early “cases” of the disorder were represented by children described as impulsive,
fidgety or generally lacking in the ability to control their behavior
Dr. George F. Still (1902) referred to children whose behavior would now be as
symptomatic of ADHD as having “defective moral control” or an inability to refrain
from inappropriate behavior
Usually, children who are displaying these conditions are often misinterpreted as
lazy, disobedient and unmotivated
Not recognized as its own special education category such as mental retardation,
learning disabilities; however, served by special education under the category of
“other health impaired”
People with this kind of condition appear to experience problems in adaptive
behavior and their relationship with peers; thus, not uncommon for students to
experience social isolation, though they desperately might want to be liked
Often occurs simultaneously with other behavioral and/or learning disorders such as
learning disabilities and emotional and behavioral disorders
(ADHD)
Description and Significant Facts
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
are conditions in which children exhibit significant differences in the ability to pay
attention and to engage in active work compared to their normal peers
Children show lack of control in saying things, cannot wait for their turn and often
engage in dangerous activities
Common characteristic of children with learning disabilities
There is attention deficit when the child is not able to attend to a task expected of hid
or der age and grade level
Hyperactivity is present when the child engages in high rates of purposeless
movement
Impulsivity is displayed through inappropriate behavior
The essential feature of ADD/ADHD is a persistent pattern of a combination of
inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity and is more frequent and severe,
maladaptive and inconsistent with the developmental level of the child
First recognized as early as the mid-19th century
Early “cases” of the disorder were represented by children described as impulsive,
fidgety or generally lacking in the ability to control their behavior
Dr. George F. Still (1902) referred to children whose behavior would now be as
symptomatic of ADHD as having “defective moral control” or an inability to refrain
from inappropriate behavior
Usually, children who are displaying these conditions are often misinterpreted as
lazy, disobedient and unmotivated
Not recognized as its own special education category such as mental retardation,
learning disabilities; however, served by special education under the category of
“other health impaired”
People with this kind of condition appear to experience problems in adaptive
behavior and their relationship with peers; thus, not uncommon for students to
experience social isolation, though they desperately might want to be liked
Often occurs simultaneously with other behavioral and/or learning disorders such as
learning disabilities and emotional and behavioral disorders
