1. Janisse Acevedo
12/12/2011
Advanced General Psychology
| PSY492 XC
Instructor: Darcel Harris

2. What is abnormal
behavior for a child?

3. What would you do if
your child was
diagnosed with a
disorder described
as Attention-
Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD) ?
ADHD is a common behavior
disorder that cause significant
impairment in functioning at
school, work, or in social
settings.” (Shire US Inc,2011)
Although this disorder has
support of many clinicians and
psychiatrist, there are still many
skeptics. Skeptics wonder is if
bad teachers can cause
ADHD, if bad parenting causes
ADHD and even if ADHD is a true
disorder. There has been much
research in the past indicating
support and opposition. Some
say children are always
hyperactive, teens are always
forgetful, and some adults just
have a lot on their plate. This
issue is ongoing.

4. Opposing sides
 Dsm  Skeptics
 To prove the effect of  One of the most
ADHD there have been IQ reasonable issues that the
test administered to public does not accept is
children and adults that that ADHD
show, people with ADHD to diagnosis, treatment
attain to have lower guidelines are constantly
academic levels.(Tymms & changing and there is an
Merell),2011 ) The test increasing amount of
clearly shows that children children being diagnosed
that have been diagnosed daily. “The influential
with ADHD share similar IQ American Academy of
levels which proves that Pediatrics has updated its
children who are hyper or decade-old policy to
who suffer from impulsivity expand the age range for
do not retain information diagnoses of ADHD to four
or are unable to remember to 18 from the previous
information. range of six to
12.”(Painter, 2011)

5. Use caution
 “According to the Centers for Disease
Control, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
diagnoses raised an average of 3 percent each year
from 1997 to 2006. About 5.4 million children ages
4 to 17 have at some point been diagnosed with
, ADHD, and about two-thirds of children who
currently have the diagnosis are on
medication.”(Rosenfeld, 2011) Rosenfeld goes on to
discuss a child he has study session with who in
fact has had trouble in school and parents are
debating medicating their 7-year-old child.
Rosenfeld continues to discuss the growing
population that is ADHD diagnosed. He states, “A
recent study from Michigan State University
revealed that kindergartners who were the
youngest in their grade were 60 percent more likely
to be diagnosed with ADHD than their older peers”.

6. Kindergarteners?

7. How to qualify
 difficulty paying attention to details and
tendency to make careless mistakes in school or  fidgeting, squirming when
other activities; producing work that is often
messy and careless seated
 easily distracted by irrelevant stimuli and
frequently interrupting ongoing tasks to attend  getting up frequently to
to trivial noises or events that are usually
ignored by others walk or run around
 inability to sustain attention on tasks or
activities  running or climbing
 difficulty finishing schoolwork or paperwork or
performing tasks that require concentration
excessively when it's
 frequent shifts from one uncompleted activity to inappropriate (in teens

another
procrastination this may appear as
 disorganized work habits
forgetfulness in daily activities (for
restlessness)
having difficulty playing

example, missing appointments, forgetting to 
bring lunch)
 failure to complete tasks such as homework or quietly or engaging in
quiet leisure activities
chores
 frequent shifts in conversation, not listening to
others, not keeping one's mind on
conversations, and not following details or rules
of activities in social situations
 being always on the go
 often talking excessively
“For a diagnosis to be made, ADHD symptoms: Must be present in at least two life
situations: for example, at home, at school or work, Must cause significant impairment in
functioning at school, work, or in social settings, and if symptoms are not better
accounted for by another mental disorder.” (Shire US Inc, 2011)

8. Do you have adhd?
 If you have more than 3
symptoms in multiple situations
in life…. You can!?
(My siblings and myself at a theme park )

9. Shocking Truth
 Because ADHD is considered a
disorder of course there are
ways you can FIX yourself or
your child.

10. Medications
 There have been several recalls on ADHD medications
and litigations that state the medications can eventually
harm its users and become addicting. College students
are seeking a misdiagnoses of ADHD receive medication
that may help them study, keep focus and help with
stress. Students have found new ways of making these
medications into misused drugs. Schools are report an
increase in the abuse of Adderall and Ritalin, prescription
drugs used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder.
 College students even snort or smoke the above
mentioned drugs that can keep them up for days, and
illegibly help them study and cram for tests. "Staying up
all night and cramming for exams seems to be a part of
college," Dado said. "In our day, we brewed pots of coffee
and got some fresh air to stay awake. Now there are
more choices out there, including these powerful drugs."
(Bruce, 2011)

11. Decide for yourself
 The topic of ADHD has been a
highly debatable concern to the
public. Although the attempt to
help people who suffer from
certain anxiety and behavior
issues is respectable. We must
always understand exactly what a
disorder is about before we decide
to use potent medications on
children. Medications that can lead
to severe consequences.

12. References
 Bruce, D. (2011). College students take ADHD medications illegally as
study aids. United States, Washington: McClatchy - Tribune
Information Services. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/890642468?accountid=34899
 Kirkey, S. (2011). ADHD rules could see kids as young as four on
drugs; critics fear children will be misdiagnosed and put on
medication they don't need. Nanaimo Daily News. A.8. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/899079005?accountid=34899
 Painter, K. (2011). ADHD diagnosis may be overdue for forgetful teens.
The Courier. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/900559783?accountid=34899
 Pearce, T. (2011). U.S. guidelines broaden age range for ADHD
diagnoses. The Globe and Mail, pp. A.16-A.16. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/898666987?accountid=34899
 Rosenfeld, R. (2011). Think twice before medicating kids ADHD
diagnoses are rising, but young students may simply be acting their
age. Newsday, pp. A.34. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/897486983?accountid=34899
 Shire US Inc. (2011). ADHD -stay on track and resources. Retrieved
from http://www.adhdsupport.com/adhd-parent-coping.aspx
 Tymms, P., & Merrell, C. (2011). ADHD and academic attainment: Is
there an advantage in impulsivity?”. Learning and Individual
Differences, 21(6), 753-758.doi:10.1016/j.lindif.2011.07.014