Carbonell Institute
Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADHD is a disorder that affects approximately 5% of school-aged children. Children with ADHD are very restless and impulsive, and they have difficulty paying attention and concentrating. Despite their best efforts, they are unable to listen properly, organize their tasks, follow complex instructions, or work or play in a team. They are often restless, always on the go, unable to sit still for long periods, or constantly fidgety.
The core symptoms of ADHD are: hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention.
Symptoms of hyperactivity:
Does not pay attention to details, makes mistakes. Difficulty maintaining attention. Factitious deafness. Does not follow instructions, does not finish tasks. Difficulty organizing. Avoids tasks that require sustained effort. Forgets and loses things necessary for his/her activity. Easily distracted by external stimuli. Forgetful in daily activities.
Symptoms of impulsivity-inattention:
Restlessness, fidgeting in seat. Gets up when he/she should be sitting. Runs and jumps in inappropriate situations. Difficulty playing quietly. Often excited, “like a motorbike.” Talkativeness. Answers before the question is finished. Difficulty waiting his/her turn in group activities. Interrupts others in games, conversations, etc.
Types:
ADHD is predominantly hyperactive/impulsive when 6 or more hyperactive/impulsive items and fewer than 6 inattentive items are detected. ADHD is predominantly inattentive when 6 or more inattentive items and fewer than 6 hyperactive/impulsive items are detected. ADHD is combined when 6 or more hyperactive/impulsive items and 6 or more inattentive items are detected.
Causes:
Biological:
Genetics: there is a familial and hereditary basis that explains 50% of cases. Neurostructure: alterations in a part of the brain called the frontal lobe.
Social Studies:
Chaotic family systems at the family level. Overly demanding family systems.
Psychological:
They don't learn to tolerate delayed gratification. That is, they don't see the potential benefits of waiting. They have difficulty self-regulating. They don't properly connect misbehavior with punishment.
Problems associated with ADHD:
Many people with ADHD also experience academic difficulties, emotional problems, anxiety, and are associated with troubled family environments. Between 40 and 50% have learning difficulties.
Course and prognosis:
This disorder is five times more common in men than in women, and the inattentive subtype is more common in men. ADHD typically begins around age five, and while these difficulties can persist into adulthood, they tend to improve over time.
