ADD and ADHD - Attention Deficit Disorder and Hyperactivity Disorder
School-aged children who have behaviour and learning problems may show signs of hyperactivity and/or inattention. If these problems are severe enough, they may be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The disorder impairs social and academic functioning and is often noticed in children who are failing to learn at school.
ADHD has received a lot of attention; discussion and debate amongst parents, teachers and the wider community in Australia because of the apparent recent increase in the diagnosis of the condition. Controversy has arisen over the use of medication, such as Ritalin, to control symptoms and help manage behavioural and learning problems in children.
Main Criteria for Diagnosis
There are two main criteria used to make a diagnosis: attention symptoms and hyperactivity symptoms.
The key features associated with symptoms of inattention include:
While ADHD is recognised as a disorder that is distinct from other childhood disorders, it frequently overlaps with other conditions such as Conduct Disorder. This can make diagnosis difficult. Also, many of the symptoms of ADHD are shared by other disorders.
Read More: http://www.psychology.org.au/community/adhd/
ADHD has received a lot of attention; discussion and debate amongst parents, teachers and the wider community in Australia because of the apparent recent increase in the diagnosis of the condition. Controversy has arisen over the use of medication, such as Ritalin, to control symptoms and help manage behavioural and learning problems in children.
Main Criteria for Diagnosis
There are two main criteria used to make a diagnosis: attention symptoms and hyperactivity symptoms.
The key features associated with symptoms of inattention include:
- failing to give close attention to details and difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play
- not listening when spoken to
- not following through on instructions and failure to finish tasks
- difficulty organising tasks and activities
- avoiding, disliking or being reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort
- losing things necessary for tasks or activities
- easily distracted
- fidgeting with hands or feet, squirming in seat
- leaving seat when remaining sitting is expected
- running about or climbing excessively
- difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities and often ‘on the go’
- talking excessively and blurting out answers before a question is completed
- interrupting others
While ADHD is recognised as a disorder that is distinct from other childhood disorders, it frequently overlaps with other conditions such as Conduct Disorder. This can make diagnosis difficult. Also, many of the symptoms of ADHD are shared by other disorders.
Read More: http://www.psychology.org.au/community/adhd/
Dr. Richard Silberstein
This Australian Doctor discusses the notion that most entrepreneurs and most creative minds, would likely be classified and pathologised as "ADD/ADHD".
'These minds 'could save the world'. ADD/ADHD may be the same type of brain pattern as with highly creative individuals. Also discusses the way Ritalin changes the pattern of thinking.
"There are wo ways of thinking, there's the converted, the very focussed attention for a limited period of time, on a few facts. But at the same time, there is another way of thinking, the more divert: the ability to see the links between facts that maybe other people haven't seen."
"The more creative individuals tend to have this capacity to link up more easily, and it seems to be that the pattern of the ADD symptoms are all associated with the people with high intelligence, are the keynotes that we see in the highly creative individuals throughout history."
"What happens when you medicate is what they subjectively sense is that they're able to focus much more and maintain their attention. But in fact the ability to suddenly see those relationships which sometimes actually occurs almost unconsciously, you're walking along and suddenly 'AHA!' that aha experience, those sorts of things tend to happen much less. But on the other hand your ability to access information that you've already got, not new relationships, is probably improved by medication"
Interviewer: "So you're better at taking tests, you'd be a better book keeper, but if you're going to invent the thing that's gonna change the world, then forget it if you're on medication. If Ben Franklin and Thomas Edison, who i think we can both agree were CLASSIC examples of ADHD, if they had been on ritalin throughout their childhood, there would probably be no United States of America and no Light bulb, is that a reasonable statement or I'm I hyperboling"
"That's an interesting extrapolation .. I suspect if they were heavily medicated, your point would be correct"
"There appears to be a relationship with ADHD and other symptoms, for instance dyslexia is one of the most common ones, in some cases there are more severe instances: Oppositional Defiance Disorder, it appears in a relationship with other disorders aswell"
Interviewer: "My sensibility is, that oppositional kids are that way because they didn't fit into the school system and they just got pissed off about it frankly".
"I think that could well be the case"
Question about impulse control
"The relationship between creativity and ADHD seems to be more on the ADD aspect, that is to say the attentional component. Not so much the hyperactivity component. It seems to be the inattention component that is linked to the creativity.
Question about Destractability
What is destractability? In one case may in fact be the ability to, I hate to say this, look outside the square. And the ability to look outside the normal pattern that people are watching and see the relationships others don't see".
Dr. Richard Silberstein
'These minds 'could save the world'. ADD/ADHD may be the same type of brain pattern as with highly creative individuals. Also discusses the way Ritalin changes the pattern of thinking.
"There are wo ways of thinking, there's the converted, the very focussed attention for a limited period of time, on a few facts. But at the same time, there is another way of thinking, the more divert: the ability to see the links between facts that maybe other people haven't seen."
"The more creative individuals tend to have this capacity to link up more easily, and it seems to be that the pattern of the ADD symptoms are all associated with the people with high intelligence, are the keynotes that we see in the highly creative individuals throughout history."
"What happens when you medicate is what they subjectively sense is that they're able to focus much more and maintain their attention. But in fact the ability to suddenly see those relationships which sometimes actually occurs almost unconsciously, you're walking along and suddenly 'AHA!' that aha experience, those sorts of things tend to happen much less. But on the other hand your ability to access information that you've already got, not new relationships, is probably improved by medication"
Interviewer: "So you're better at taking tests, you'd be a better book keeper, but if you're going to invent the thing that's gonna change the world, then forget it if you're on medication. If Ben Franklin and Thomas Edison, who i think we can both agree were CLASSIC examples of ADHD, if they had been on ritalin throughout their childhood, there would probably be no United States of America and no Light bulb, is that a reasonable statement or I'm I hyperboling"
"That's an interesting extrapolation .. I suspect if they were heavily medicated, your point would be correct"
"There appears to be a relationship with ADHD and other symptoms, for instance dyslexia is one of the most common ones, in some cases there are more severe instances: Oppositional Defiance Disorder, it appears in a relationship with other disorders aswell"
Interviewer: "My sensibility is, that oppositional kids are that way because they didn't fit into the school system and they just got pissed off about it frankly".
"I think that could well be the case"
Question about impulse control
"The relationship between creativity and ADHD seems to be more on the ADD aspect, that is to say the attentional component. Not so much the hyperactivity component. It seems to be the inattention component that is linked to the creativity.
Question about Destractability
What is destractability? In one case may in fact be the ability to, I hate to say this, look outside the square. And the ability to look outside the normal pattern that people are watching and see the relationships others don't see".
Dr. Richard Silberstein
Video interview Parts 1 - 4
Professor Robert Spillane
Controversial but well worth the watch. Robert Spillane discusses his belief that ADD/ADHD is a myth.