on adhd, add, pervasive syndrome, autism, pddnos definitions and concepts

8/8/2019 On ADHD, ADD, Pervasive Syndrome, Autism, PDDNOS definitions and concepts

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ECP 29/ EDAGiraldyne D. Semaa Mrs. IreneRequintonBEED- 3 September 3,

2010

Assignment 4

1. Research on important facts of the following:

a. ADHD

The ADHD definition states that ADHD is a disorder that affects a child'sability to concentrate and stay focused.

Although symptoms of ADHD can differ with each child, many children whosuffer from ADHD have difficulty following directions and finishing tasks.

They are also very impulsive and have excessive energy.

The definition of ADHD states that children who are ADHD exhibit thesebehaviors; which can appear to be typical in many active children from timeto time, in an extreme manner.

Their behaviors interfere with their ability to function socially and in schoolsettings. These behaviors are not considered to be age appropriate andcannot be explained by a change in the child's life; such as a divorce, afamily move or a new baby.

Defining ADHD Subtypes

The definition of ADHD identifies three major symptoms which are;hyperactivity, inattention and impulsiveness.

The definition of ADHD reflects the fact that not all ADHD children exhibit allthree symptoms.

A child diagnosed with ADHD is typically diagnosed with one of the threefollowing subtypes...

ADHD Predominantly Inattentive ADHD Predominantly Hyperactive Impulsive ADHD Predominantly Combined

Definition of ADHD Regarding Length of Symptoms


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Because many of the symptoms of ADHD can appear to some degree inmany children who are perfectly healthy, it is important to note thatdefinition of ADHD states that an ADHD child's symptoms typically appearbefore the child is six years old, and will have been prevalent for more than ayear.

Children's behaviors can change as they grow and develop and it isimportant to note that with ADHD the symptoms must be obvious from ayoung age and last for a significant period of time.

Definition of ADHD Regarding Severity of Symptoms

The definition of ADHD also states that the behavior symptoms of an ADHDchild are severe, and cannot be ignored.

The child's behavior has a negative affect on their social life and their

success in school. Parents, teachers, child care providers and any other adultwho has close contact with the child should all be consulted by the healthcare professional who assesses a child for ADHD.

Hyperactive ADHD Definition

The hyperactive behavior associated with definition of ADHD includes when achild...

Has difficulty standing still or staying seated without fidgeting,bouncing or moving

Talks excessively Climbs on things or jumps off things inappropriately Is constantly moving Have difficulty with quiet activities.

Impulsive ADHD Definition

The impulsive behavior associated with definition of ADHD include when achild...

Interrupts other's conversations Has difficulty waiting for a turn Interrupts other children's play inappropriately Blurts out answers inappropriately Acts in a reckless manner without thinking of the consequences, such

as running into traffic or jumping off a dangerous incline.

Inattentive ADHD Definition


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The inattentive behavior associated with definition of ADHD include when achild...

Appears not to listen when being spoken to Has difficulty following directions and finishing tasks

Is easily distracted Makes careless mistakes Loses belongings and has a difficult time staying organized.

b. ADD

Attention Deficit Disorder is a biologically based condition causing apersistent pattern of difficulties resulting in one or more of the followingbehaviors:

inattention

hyperactivity impulsivity

Inattention

Difficulty attending or focusing on a specific task. People with AttentionDeficit Disorder may become distracted within a matter of minutes.Inattentive behavior may also cause difficulties with staying organized (e.g.losing things), keeping track of time, completing tasks, and making carelesserrors.

Hyperactivity

difficulty inhibiting behavior. These people are in constant motion. They mayengage in excessive fiddling, leg swinging, and squirming in their chair.

Impulsivity

difficulty controlling impulses. These people do not stop and think beforethey act. They say and do whatever comes into their mind without thinkingabout the consequences. They might say something inappropriate and regretit later, blurt out a response to question before a person is done speaking to

them, or have difficulty waiting for their turn in line.

ADD or ADHD - What's the Difference?

Clinically, the term ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.A person may either be diagnosed with ADHD or ADD depending on whetherthey are hyperactive or not. It is possible for someone to have ADD withoutbeing hyperactive. To accommodate this possibility, ADHD is often written


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with brackets around the "H" (i.e. AD(H)D). You may also see it written asAD/HD. There are generally three types of AD(H)D:

Combined Type (hyperactive, impulsive, inattentive) Inattentive Type

Hyperactive, Impulsive Type

Around the web, in the media, and the general public you will often hear/seeADD used as a generic term to describe the whole disability. You may alsonotice that many people with ADD have developed their own uniqueterminology to describe themselves (e.g. "ADD'ers" or "ADDults")

c. Autism (Four Common Types Evident in Preschoolers)

DEFINITION OF AUTISM

Autism is defined by the Autism Society Of America (ASA) as: "Autism is acomplex developmental disability that typically appears during the first threeyears of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects thenormal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of socialinteraction and communication skills. Both children and adults with autismtypically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, socialinteractions, and leisure or play activities.

Autism is one of five disorders that falls under the umbrella of PervasiveDevelopmental Disorders (PDD), a category of neurological disorders

characterized by severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development."

CHARACTERISTICS OF AUTISMMost signs or characteristics of Autism are evident in the areas of speech orcommunication (verbal and non-verbal). Many of the signs or symptoms of Autism begin presenting themselves between 2 and 6 years of age.

The research indicates the following symptoms are the most commonly found characteristics of Autism:

The child is unable to coo by 12 months. The child also does not point or gesture by 12 months. The child does not say single words by 16 months. The child does not say 2 or more words by 24 months.Has lost some of social skills or language abilities.

Other Characteristics include :


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No fear of danger.Over or under sensitivity to pain.May avoid eye contact with you.May prefer to be by him/herself.Has difficulty expressing what they want or need - may then try to use

gestures.May echo words or phrases.May have inappropriate attachments to objects.May spin his/herself or objects.Prolonged repetitive play.May insist on things/routines always being the same.May exhibit inappropriate laughing (laughing when not appropriate to thesituation).May display tantrums for no apparent reason.May avoid cuddling.May exhibit self injurious behavior when upset i.e. biting selves or banging

heads.An overall difficulty interacting with others.

If you see the above symptoms, you should consult with your doctor and aPsychologist before drawing your own conclusions. An important note here - Istress that it's also important to see a Psychologist, or a Speech Therapist,and not just take the word of your doctor or PCP. Although medical doctorsare very well trained, a Psychologist and/or Speech Pathologist have specifictraining in Autism and other Developmental disorders and may have a betterunderstanding of Autism and how to treat it. However, having said that - it's

best to START by seeing your doctor to rule out any other medical conditionsand to get their clinical opinion initially.

For many treatment programs, it is a collective effort of many differentprofessional disciplines ie. medical doctor, psychologist, occupationaltherapist, Counselor - all with specific training with Autism. Again - checkwith your doctor about all of your options.

CAUSES OF AUTISM

The research indicates that the cause of Autism is likely biological, but thismay not be the only cause. Evidence has shown that 1 in 3 people diagnosedwith Autism have had around 1-2 epileptic seizures by the time they reachadulthood. Also, Autism tends to run in families, pointing to a possiblegenetic cause. And autopsies of the brain have shown deficits in variousparts of the brain (i.e. cerebellum, frontal lobes, brain stem). Scientists havealso found abnormal levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, such asSerotonin.


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TYPES OF AUTISM These are the most common disorders, all presenting in a somewhat similarmanner, but having slight variations:

Autistic Disorder - As stated above, and defined by the Autism Society of

America (ASA): "Autism is a complex developmental disability that typicallyappears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurologicaldisorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impactingdevelopment in the areas of social interaction and communication skills.Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal andnon-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities.

Autism is one of five disorders that falls under the umbrella of PervasiveDevelopmental Disorders (PDD), a category of neurological disorderscharacterized by severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of

development."

Pervasive Developmental Disorder (P.D.D) - Also called "AtypicalAutism." Children with this disorder have many of the same characteristics of Autism, but not all the criteria associated with Autism.

Asperger's Disorder - Children with this disorder do not have the usuallanguage barriers associated with Autism and are generally very intelligent.However, they do tend to struggle with social interactions, and can fixate on

a particular object or subject they take an interest in, and talk about itconstantly.

Retts Disorder - Retts is rather similar to Autism, but presents only in girls. The children begin to develop on target, but then begin losing somecommunication abilities. The symptoms of Retts can begin to occur betweenages 1 and 4.

AUTISM OVER TIME

the symptoms of Autism tend to lessen as people grow older. Or, perhaps thesymptoms may present in different forms. For example, children diagnosedwith Autism during their early childhood years may exhibit differentproblems once they reach their teen years ie. depression or other behavioralproblems. Other children with Autism may show very few symptoms of itwhen they reach their teen and adult years. Therefore, treatments may needto be changeable over time, depending on the individual.


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d. Symptoms of Pervasive Development Disorders Not Otherwise

Specified)

PDD-NOS Signs & Symptoms

Often children with PDD-NOS are thought to have a "milder" form of autism,though this may not be technically true. One symptom may be minor, whileanother may be worse.

Communication Delays

Children with PDD-NOS usually have language and communication problems.

As babies, a child with PDD-NOS may not babble or when they do learnwords, they exhibit "echolalia" repeating words or phrases over and overagain. Remember kids with PDD-NOS who have some language havepotential. It is easier to expand language in these children, than it is with achild who is completely nonverbal.

Social Delays

Children with PDD-NOS usually have social delays. They may want friends,but don't know how to make them. If they have language delays this can alsohinder their ability to socialize with others. Often children with PDD-NOS

have difficulty with understanding body language, facial expressions andtone of voice. Children with PDD-NOS often don't understand jokes orsarcasm.

Another common symptom of PDD-NOS is difficulty understanding emotions.A child may not be able to tell when someone is happy, sad or angry. Beginwith Emotions cards to help them begin to recognize basic emotions. Againlook at the strengths of the child with PDD-NOS if they show an interest in


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their peers work with them to help them develop strategies for peerinteraction.

Behavioral Delays

Behavioral symptoms of PDD-NOS can include emotional outbursts andtantrums. These children may become very dependent on routines and havea need for things to be the same. They can misinterpret situations andbecome frustrated easily. It is important to remember when dealing withyour child; often these tantrums are a result of fear, anxiety ormisunderstanding a situation.

A common symptom of PDD-NOS is "perseveration" or dwelling on a certainsubject. They often have an overwhelming preoccupation with one subjectpreferring only to talk about or play with toys that are associated with thearea they are interested in.

2. As a teacher, how can you design your class so that children withthese concerns can take part in your daily routines?

As a teacher, I can help resolve these concerns in my daily routines anddesign the class by first observing them. The design of my class would beInclusion Education, Multicultural Education and of course there should be

Transition. These three designs are very important for me because children

with special needs need a balanced daily routine. Inclusion Education is veryimportant for them so that children with special needs will always beincluded in the learning process. Multicultural Education would also be a wayto understand that children with special needs have different race,background, ethnicity, nationality, etc. Finally on Transition, I would wantthese children with special needs that they need to learn on the basics inorder to gain meaningful experiences and to repeat those experiences thatbest correspond to their interests and abilities.

Sources:

Books:

Lowfrey, George. Growth and Development of Children. Chicago, USA. YearBook Medical Publishers, Inc., 1973.

Woolfolk, Anita. Educational Psychology. Massachusetts, USA. A ViacomCompany., 1998


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Internet:

http://www.child-development-guide.com/adhd-definition.html

http://www.ldpride.net/addexplained.htm

http://www.nationalautismresources.com/autismsymptoms.html
http://www.child-development-guide.com/adhd-definition.htmlhttp://www.ldpride.net/addexplained.htmhttp://www.child-development-guide.com/adhd-definition.htmlhttp://www.ldpride.net/addexplained.htm

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