Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/ Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) :: Teaching Education

Symptoms within the classroom There are many warnings signs to Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/ Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), some may make careless mistakes, not paying attention to detail, not able to follow directions, often loses things, not being able to complete the task at hand, and often they are not able to sit still. (Jaska, 1998). These symptoms occur on a daily bases. ADD is a broader topic; ADHD is a subtype with in this category. Children can be diagnosed with ADD with or with out hyperactivity. ADD/ADHD is genetically linked disorder. Some parents may want to blame it on their child, but in fact it runs within families. If a parent or a teacher sees some of these patterns forming, they should seek professional help. These professionals can identify the problem; they can see psychologist, psychiatrist, pediatrician, and neurologist or any other specialist in this area. Many of these professionals use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R), whi ch is a clinical manual that describes systems of all the different disorders that are known to the association (Hocutt, et al, 1993). Many parents want to blame the educational system or the teacher for this disorder occurring to their child. There has been a notice of the increase in both private and public school that children are being diagnosed with ADD/ADHD disorder. Sometimes looked at as an easy escape goat, but this is not always true. As a teacher, one must be able to recognize and know how to provide accommodation for these students in the classroom (Polloway, et al, 1998). Teachers can use â€Å"four fundamental intervention areas: environmental management which includes; psychosocial: teacher, family, peers and students, physical: assertive technology, seating and arrangement of classroom, instructional: transitions, grouping lesson planning, procedural: classroom rules. Instructional accommodations one must look at; curriculum, materials, involvement and the final products, student- regulated strategies you must increase attention/focus, modify impulsive responding, and provide help for peer relations. And lastly is there medical management treatment† (1998), this is a model for intervention. This can be overwhelming for one teacher. A classroom filled with children with all needing something different can in the long run be harmful for the students. That is why many teachers need teaching assistance to help them. This would provide more attention to each child.