He must have a reasonable amount of stick-to-itiveness and patience to tolerate difficult tasks; if he gives up immediately, learning will obviously be impaired. And... The ADHD child is both inattentive and readily frustrated. The learning problems are further complicated because they tend to move in vicious circles; they often snowball. (Wender, 2000, p. 22)
Another related aspect is that unless the problems that the student is experiencing are related to his or her ADHD condition, the student may become demotivated as a result of poor performance and criticism. This can lead to other learning issues and even to serious related problems such as the loss of self -worth and self-esteem. This will in turn impact again on the learning ability of the student.
There are numerous studies which attest to the relationship between ADHD and learning problems. In a study by Maynard et al. (1999) it was found that students with ADHD are "...more disabled academically and cognitively than those without ADD." (Maynard, Tyler & Arnold, 1999, p. 183) This study also emphasizes that the disorder can have a negative effect not only on educational and school achievements but "... limits functional ability in other environments as well." (Maynard, Tyler & Arnold, 1999, p. 183)
Research also indicates that about half those children who are diagnosed with ADHD have coordination problems. This can also have a profound impact on achievement and learning ability. (Wender, 2000, p. 24) "Handwriting is often terrible and the ADHD child perceives writing as a chore. The combination of poor coordination and failure to plan can lead to an illegible written page, with words overrunning lines, the sides of the page, and each other." (Wender, 2000, p. 24)
ADHD can also impact on reading abilities and skills. ADHD students can have "... phonological processing deficits or linguistic deficiencies that are predictive of reading disabilities." (Maynard, Tyler & Arnold, 1999, p. 183) Reading difficulties can lead to problems in language processing and acquisition - and subsequently affect the overall learning process.
Conclusion
Research shows clearly that the ADHD student has more learning difficulties that the non-ADHD student. While ADHD is a continuing and growing problem, what is possibly more alarming is that this disorder can lead to other related disorders which all impact and negatively affect the learning process.
Treatment of ADHD includes medication as well as behavioral therapy and emotional counseling. Medications such as methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin) or dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) are prescribed to correct neuro-chemical imbalances in the brain. However the most problematic area is the actual learning environment where the teacher and other educational authorities have to be aware of this problem and not allow it to be obscured by other related issues. In some cases students with ADHD related learning disabilities can receive counseling from special education professionals. These individuals serve as guidance counselors to help implement "individualized education plans" (IEPs) coaching. This is a "....relatively new specialty in the ADHD professional community, is used to help students on a one-to-one basis to improve their personal and professional lives, though guidance and motivation. (Psychological Evaluation and Counseling)
The idea that there is no absolute cure for ADD/ADHD is certainly a challenge of our time. Many professionals have wrestled with the problem of finding a more effective solution to this problem. It is also believed...
Swanson, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, CA 92715 Gender: Age: ____ Grade: Ethnicity (circle one which best applies): African-American Asian Caucasian Hispanic Other Completed by:____ Type of Class: Class size: For each item, check the column which best describes this child: Not at Just a Quite Bit Much 1. Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork or tasks 2. Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities 3. Often does not seem to
Scientists have not yet figured out what causes ADHD, even though many studies propose that genes play a large part. Like a lot of other sicknesses, ADHD almost certainly can be contributed to a mixture of factors. In addition to genetics, researchers are looking at probable environmental factors, and are examining how brain injuries, nutrition, and the social environment might add to ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (2010). Most
ADHD Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has become a relatively common diagnosis. Most young people know someone with the diagnosis, if they have not themselves been diagnosed. The article "More Diagnoses of A.D.H.D. Causing Concern," published in The New York Times, highlights the growing concerns with the increase in diagnoses of ADHD in children and teens. While there are certainly kids that legitimately have ADHD, some doctors are rushing through the
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder is a behavioral disorder that is mostly found in children. According to one research almost 7.5% of school-aged children are suffering from some kind of ADHD related behavioral problem in the United States. In some cases, untreated symptoms can persist in the adulthood too, which can create numerous problems in the patient's social and emotional life. ADHD is rarely found in isolation as the child may
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a common childhood problem affecting as much as 3-5% of the school-age population. The core symptoms of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Children with ADHD exhibit functional impairment across multiple settings and engage in disruptive behaviors, thus inviting criticism from adults and peer rejection. Psycho stimulant medication has been shown to be reasonably successful, but may produce significant side effects in a
Each of the children received one of four possible treatments over a fourteen-month period - behavioral treatment, medication management, combination of the two, or usual community care. The results of this study showed that children who were treated with medication alone, which was carefully managed and individually tailored, and children who received both medication management and behavioral treatment had the best outcomes with respect to improvement of ADHD symptoms.
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now