Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/45361
Facts about ADD/ADHD ADD/ADHD is a neurobiological disor- der that runs in families. There is no cure, although symptoms can be managed with medication and behavior techniques. While people may joke about having ADD, it's a serious condition that puts stu- dents at risk of dropping out of high school or taking longer to graduate, according to a UC Davis School of Medicine report. If undiagnosed or untreated, it may cause problems in adulthood including anxiety, depression, substance abuse and difficulty in the workplace and with relationships. Individuals can also have a poor self-image — especially when it's undiagnosed — and mistakenly think of themselves as "lazy, crazy or stupid," according to CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Defi- cit/Hyperactivity Disorder), an organization dedicated to increasing public awareness. There are three types of people with the condition: those who have difficulty when it comes to concentration, individuals who have problems with hyperactivity and impulsivity, and those who have symptoms in both categories, which is most common. Rates of diagnosis are comparable among whites, blacks and some Hispanic groups, notes a study by the CDC. "There are a wide range of symptoms," says Sandra Rief, who has written several books and presented workshops at CTA's Good Teaching Conference on the topic. "While some individuals have hyperactiv- ity, others have the inattentive type and don't display disruptive behaviors. Some children have a hard time with social skills, while others are socially adept. It depends on the child." Children with ADD/ADHD may be very bright and even gifted, says Rief, a for- mer resource specialist in San Diego who is a nationally and internationally known speaker. But when it prevents a child from achieving success, it can cause frustration in the classroom. BELOW: Staying in his desk is a challenge for Rickie Freeman of Hosler Middle School in Lynwood. Sandra Rief gives a presentation at CTA's Good Teaching Conference on strategies for ADHD students. "These children have behaviors and per- formance difficulties that are frustrating and often perplexing to parents and teachers," says Rief. "We need to remember ADHD is a brain-based disorder that causes certain behaviors, and it's not deliberate. It's not a matter of trying harder; many of these children put forth far more effort than the average child. It may take them three to four times longer to do homework, and then they can get a zero because they forget to take it out of their backpack." More boys than girls are diagnosed with the condition, and girls are more likely to have ADD without the hyperactivity com- ponent, says Rief. Girls may "slip under the radar" because, though unfocused and struggling to keep up at school, they aren't bothering anybody. So their disorder often goes undiagnosed until middle school, high school or beyond. "The condition also commonly affects We need to remember ADHD is a brain-based disorder that causes certain behaviors, and it's not deliberate. It's not a matter of trying harder; many of these children put forth far more effort than the average child. Sandra Rief an individual's organization, planning and other 'executive function' skills," explains Rief. "Those with ADD/ADHD are develop- mentally immature in their self-regulation and self-management abilities in spite of how intelligent they may be." Overcrowded classrooms make it more difficult to teach these students, says Rief, and NCLB has resulted in less recess and classroom "wiggle time" for students who need to get up and move around, which has especially impacted students with this condition. 12 California Educator / October 2011