Attention and Activity Disorders

1
Attention and Activity Disorders

• How are attention and activity disorders
  identified and treated?

2
Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder

• A developmental disorder of attention and
  activity level.
• Onset before the age of 7 or 8.
• Persists throughout the life span.
• Involves academic and social problems.
• Frequently accompanied by other disorders.

3
Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder

• Core problems in regulation of
• Attention
• Cognition
• Motivation
• Social behavior

4
Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder

• Often comorbid with LD or EBD
• Prevalence of about 3-5
• Diagnosed boys outnumber diagnosed girls
• No clear biological or environmental cause
• Prevention consists of managing problems once
  they occur

5
Assessment

• Assessment for instruction differs from
  assessment for treatment.
• Assessment for Instruction
• Teacher and peer rating scales
• Direct observation

6
Most Effective Treatments

• Medication
• Parent training
• Teacher training

7
Medication

• Controversial
• Most effective form of intervention
• Can make student more teachable

8
Teacher Training

• Behavioral Interventions
• Token reinforcement
• Response cost
• Contingency contracts
• Cognitive Training Strategies

9
Goal of Intervention

• Manage students problems as successfully as
  possible.
• Realize that a cure is not available.
• Develop coping strategies for parents and
  teachers.