...Your name Professor’s name Class Information 06 May 2013 Final Argumentative Essay Zombie Children: The Over-diagnosis of ADHD in children Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral syndrome predominantly occurring in children (CDC 1). It is one of the most common childhood disorders. This condition is characterized by lack of attention, fidgeting, lack of organization, or squirming when seated. Children with ADHD often have difficulty paying attention to details and are easily distracted by other events happening at the same time; they find it difficult to complete their schoolwork; they put off anything that requires a lot of thought; they are prone to making careless mistakes, and are disorganized; they may seem as if they are listening when spoken to and often fail to follow through with tasks. The symptoms usually become evident in preschool or when entering into elementary school but can continue into adolescence and adulthood. There is no fixed test that can give an accurate diagnosis that a child has ADHD; therefore, over diagnosis has become difficult to avoid. Approximately, 9.5% (5.4 million) children, between four and seventeen years of age, are diagnosed with ADHD (CDC). This translates to three percent to seven percent of school aged children being diagnosed with ADHD. The rate that ADHD has been diagnosed has increased an average of three percent per year between the years 1997 and 2006 and an average of five and a half percent...
Words: 2154 - Pages: 9
...Diagnosis of ADHD in Youth Brent Townes COM/172 November 10, 2014 Crystal Hicks Diagnosis of ADHD in Youth There have been a lot of studies done on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in the school aged children of today. The Center for Dieses Control and Prevention has completed a mass survey that states 1 and 5 school aged boys has been diagnosed with ADHD, and 11 percent of school aged children overall (ages 4-17 years old). Approximately 6.4 million have been diagnosed as of 2011. This number has increased from 7.8% in 2003 to 11% in 2011. Boys are 13.2% more likely than girls at 5.6% to ever be diagnosed with ADHD. The diagnosis of ADHD is a real disorder that needs to be addressed, but does not always need medication to treat it. Diagnosis of ADHD For a child to be diagnosed with ADHD there is certain criteria that is supposed to be met. There are several steps to the process in being diagnosed with ADHD, however, there is not one test alone that can diagnosis it. There are many other issues such as anxiety, depression, and other learning disabilities that have similar symptoms as ADHD. There was recently a new manual printed for medical professionals called DSM-5 to diagnosis ADHD. There was a few changes to the DSM-5 such as: symptoms can occur by age 12 rather than by age 6; and adults and children 17 and older are only required to have 5 symptoms rather than the 6 symptoms for children 16 and younger. Here are a few examples...
Words: 1611 - Pages: 7
...English Composition 1 September 4th 2013 A deeper look at the CDC article on ADHD The article written by the CDC on ADHD is very informative and eye opening. It forces parents to take a deeper look at the truths of this disorder. It shows the many different signs and symptoms that can better help to diagnose the disorder. It speaks to parents, guardians, and care givers on ways to treat and handle children with ADHD. The article shows how getting proper diagnosing is very important in helping children begin to overcome ADHD. The CDC article is informative on the best treatments and symptoms of ADHD. CDC (also known as the centers for disease control and prevention) saving lives protecting people is their motto. “They conduct critical science and protect people from health threats. They do studies not only in the US but abroad as well”. (CDC home page mission statement) There are many signs and symptoms we need to be aware of when dealing with ADHD. If a child day dreams a lot or has a bad memory, they could possibly have ADHD. Other signs to watch for are being squirmy, talking a lot and having trouble taking turns. Just because you see some of these signs, does not mean the child has ADHD. That is why having the child evaluated by a professional is so important. Children showing some of these signs will often have a tough time in school and at home. Staying focused is a difficult task for children with ADHD. They often have a tough time getting along with other children. Having...
Words: 791 - Pages: 4
...Suggest 2 improvements that could be made to the Griffiths study and outline any implications these changes may have. (8) One change would be to replicate the study in different countries. Pseudo patients could see if they would be diagnosed as having schizophrenia by doctors in England, France and Canada. The pseudo patients would provide the same symptoms as in the original study (thud, hollow and empty). This would allow the researcher to investigate any cross cultural differences in diagnosis and the treatment of patents (if admitted to a hospital). An implication of this may be that doctors in the other countries may make the same mistakes with diagnosis thus showing practitioners to be bias cross cultural. This would give further support for the need of the DSM to be updates and would mean that the results form Rosenhan's study could be generalised to other countries. In addition to this it would provide insight into treatments used in the different countries, they may find that the type of care/ standard of care differ from country to country (possibly worse in counties with lower economy) Another improvement could be to set up CCTV cameras into the hospitals to record the behaviours of the staff towards the patients. This would be overt at first as the staff would be aware the cameras are being brought in, however they would soon forget they are there. This would allow Rosenhan to have a record of staff patient interaction and the treatment of the pseudo patients...
Words: 311 - Pages: 2
...to be standardized across psychology; however, the DSM-IV is not as precise for diagnosing personality disorders as some psychologists would like. Give an example of each of the following problems identified in your readings and explain how these problems could negatively affect a diagnosis. 1. Some criteria used for reaching a diagnosis cannot be observed directly. The DSM-IV has been criticized for diagnosing patients with disorders because of their reliability. A patient is diagnosed by a clinician based on the patient telling them their symptoms, when it is possible that the patient is exaggerating and this can result in a patient being mis diagnosed because the clinician may not have paid close attention to body language and actions from the patient. 2. Personality disorders can be similar to each other. A person can be diagnosed with one or more personality disorders because symptoms are related to one another according to the DSM-IV. With the symptoms of personality disorders being similar in nature to one another it does make it hard to diagnose a person with a single personality disorder according to the DSM-IV. 3. People with different personalities can be given the same diagnosis. Each person is different so therefore one person’s symptoms may not be the same as another person. The DSM-IV does not account for a person’s individuality. An individual’s personality affects how they react to different situations in life, this can lead to a misdiagnosis by a clinician...
Words: 402 - Pages: 2
...pre-adoption? When was she adopted? How did the process go? How specifically have her eating and sleeping patterns changed? What is she throwing tantrums over? Describe the tantrums and situations during and before they happen. 2. In addition to the clinical interview, what other clinical assessment tools should you consider? Why? Which ones would you not consider? Why? I’d start off with observation of the family in a natural environment concentrating on not only Clara but her parents as well. 3. If you were preparing to diagnose Clara, you would refer to the DSM-IV classification system to evaluate her condition on five separate axes. What type of information would go into each axis? Note: You are not asked to enter a diagnosis, only describe the kind of information that would be entered in each axis.) Clara is a child who is adopted. She’s having control and/or anger issues in the form of tantrums and her natural sleeping and eating patterns have been disturbed 4. Do you...
Words: 479 - Pages: 2
...clinically significant and associated with intensive distress, impairment, social dysfunction or increased personal or public risk, however it must be unrelated to grief caused by recent personal loss, (4th ed., text rev.; DSM–IV–TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000; Holt et al, 2012). The distinct criteria and descriptive information in the DSM-IV, enables clinicians to make quick diagnoses based on an individual’s symptoms. It can also be used in legal proceedings, to determine the mental state of individuals and ensure they receive appropriate sentencing in psychiatric care rather than prison. It is versatile and the only manual that strictly focuses on mental health which is why it is referred to as the Gold Standard of clinical diagnosis. The DSM-IV has also played a vital role in the development of research and treatments for mental health, which has improved many patients’ quality of life. Keenan et al. (2007) examined the reliability of the DSM-IV oppositional defiant and conduct disorder symptoms, in 3-5 year old children. The mothers were interviewed about their children’s current symptoms and results showed that the reliability of symptoms, measured by interrater and test-retest reliability, was moderate to high. However, the DSM-IV-TR (2000) 4th ed., text rev. emphasises that the diagnostic criteria are only guidelines and reliability is therefore determined primarily by the clinician’s interpretation of the information provided. In the...
Words: 719 - Pages: 3
...Symptoms and Diagnosing of Autism Spectrum Disorder Stephanie R. South University of Cincinnati Abstract This paper explores the symptoms and how to accurately diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism is classified as a psychological condition that starts in adolescence. Psychology classes, specifically an introductory course, briefly cover this condition and its diagnosis. This paper will provide a great knowledge and understanding of diagnosing Autism. There are many symptoms and signs exhibited in children diagnosed with Autism. There is no clear answer for why or how this disorder occurs, making it hard to properly diagnose those afflicted. It is extremely important for the child’s caregiver to be proactive and seek out medical expertise at the onset of behavioral issues in their child. Diagnosing the child at a younger age can ensure proper treatment and interventions for him/her. I have chosen to write my paper on the symptoms and diagnosing of Autism. This disorder is mysterious, but also fascinating. Being a mother, I worry all the time about new and strange afflictions that are attacking our children. To be proactive in our children’s lives, we must be knowledgeable and observant for the early warning signs or symptoms. Throughout the research process of preparing my paper, I have gained a greater comprehension of this disorder and the first indicators that has prepared me to act promptly for the sake of my children. In the last decade, Autism has gained...
Words: 1058 - Pages: 5
...Awareness is important to me because even when a patient has the most common form of dysautonomia, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), it takes an average of 4 years before the correct diagnosis is identified. Unfortunately, being diagnosed properly does not always mean a patient will get better. Due to a lack of awareness of how prevalent this condition is, very little research is funded by our government, so we still have no cure. Treatments currently available can give back some quality of life, but are not a cure and do not work for all patients. If a root cause can be identified, sometimes treating that helps resolve dysautonomia symptoms. I became ill in 2008 at the age of 18 and slowly became more and more sick. Due to the lack of awareness about dysautonomia, it took 4 years (and 20+ doctors) from first becoming ill before I was diagnosed with POTS. In the years after diagnosis I saw many doctors and even went to Mayo Clinic. Over 30 different treatments were tried, but my condition got worse and worse until I couldn't do basic things like grocery shop for myself....
Words: 492 - Pages: 2
...Laryngospasms are a serious medical condition that can occur among the pediatric population who are receiving administration of anesthesia agents. In the pediatric population, incidences of laryngospasms range from 0.9% to as high as 14%. Laryngospasms are considered to be “one of the more frequent unanticipated complications that occur under general anesthesia” (McDonnell, 2012). Anesthesia providers perform inhalational inductions with Sevoflurane to pediatric patients on a daily basis with intravenous cannulation following the induction. It is common practice for the majority of pediatric patients enduring medical procedures to undergo this routine in order to be anesthetized (Joshi et al., 2012). The incidence of laryngospasms occurring has been associated with the time frame for attempting intravenous cannulation on the child following an inhalational induction with Sevoflurane (Schwartz et al., 2004). Laryngospasms are frequently associated with early placement of intravenous cannulation and increased physical movement among the child during cannulation insertion (Kilicaslan et al., 2014). A variety of times have been implemented regarding the adequate time frame for proceeding with intravenous cannulation after Sevoflurane inhalational induction within the pediatric population. Factors have been taken into consideration based on whether the child was premedicated with oral Midazolam. The time frame of waiting 120 seconds after loss of lid reflex before initiating...
Words: 2958 - Pages: 12
... What were the suggested next steps in your MyFoundationsLab® Learning Path? How do the skills apply to your academic life? How do the skills apply to your professional life? Were you surprised by the results? Why or why not? MyFoundationsLab is a complete online mastery-based resource designed to help assess, diagnose, and remediate students' knowledge of the reading, writing, and math required to successfully place within the credit-earning and development curriculum. The system offers a rich environment of pre-built or customized assessments, personalized learning plans, and highly interactive learning activities that enable students to master skills at their own pace. MyFoundationsLab has a comprehensive diagnostic tool, called Path Builder, to help each student achieve personalized learning. Path Builder diagnostic tests are pre-built to align with common readiness or workplace standards, or they can be customized to fit specific goals. Once students complete a Path Builder diagnostic test, they receive a personalized set of content modules, in a format called the Learning Path. Each content module in a student's Learning Path covers a general concept such as "Fractions" or "Sentences." Once inside a module, a student can take a shorter diagnostic test, called a Skills Check, which defines the exact smaller topics a student needs to understand in order to prove mastery for the module. These smaller topics, for example, might...
Words: 373 - Pages: 2
...[TEAM] Read the case, “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished”. Notice that this case was written by another professor and me as a learning opportunity for our students. Yes, this really did happen in a major metropolitan area in the U.S. [ASSUMPTIONS] 1. Your team has been hired by the Arts Festival to help them, because Mark and the drug store are suing the Festival. 2. You were hired, because the Festival’s leadership cannot do this for themselves. What that means for you is that they do not need generic answers. They need specifics. For example, do not explain what “readiness to change” means. Instead, assess readiness to change and give your client your results. If they are not ready to change, where do they need to change? Specificity is your friend. 3. This is not a creative writing exercise even though you are working with creative people. This is a technical report that needs to be straightforward and concise. Develop the case for change by fully completing the following tasks and by supporting your answers with outside sources. (Minimum 5 outside resources.) Be sure to cite your sources in the text and to include a list of references in APA format. Do NOT write this as a set of responses to each task. I have never seen a professional document that simply answered a list of questions. Instead, write your response as a report to a client and let your report demonstrate your professional proficiency in the resolution of complex problems through excellent communication...
Words: 832 - Pages: 4
...evidence. A well-built PICOT question increases the likelihood that the best evidence to inform practice will be found quickly and efficiently. Templates and Definitions for PICOT Questions5, 6 Question type Definition Template Intervention or therapy To determine which treatment leads to the best outcome In _____________________ (P), how does ______________ (I) compared with _________ (C) affect __________________ (O) within _________________ (T)? Etiology To determine the greatest risk factors or causes of a condition Are ______________________________ (P) who have ________________________ (I), compared with those without ________ (C), at ____ risk for ____________________ (O) over _____________________________ (T)? Diagnosis or diagnostic test To determine which test is more accurate and precise in diagnosing a condition In ______________________________ (P), are/is ___________________________ (I) compared with ___________________ (C) more accurate in diagnosing _______ (O)? Prognosis or prediction To determine the clinical course over time and likely complications of a condition In ___________________ (P), how does ____________ (I) compared with ________ (C), influence _____________ (O) over _________________ (T)? Meaning To understand the meaning...
Words: 277 - Pages: 2
...Clinical Assessment Psychology 270 May 20, 2012 Mr. and Mrs. Lawson brought their 4-year-old adopted daughter, Clara, to see Dr. Mason, a psychiatrist. Clara was polite in greeting Dr. Mason, but did not smile and kept her gaze down as she took a seat. Mr. and Mrs. Lawson sat next to Clara and began explaining their concerns. They described Clara as a quiet child who has recently begun throwing temper tantrums, during which she is inconsolable. Her sleep and eating patterns have changed, and she no longer wants to go to preschool. 1. What other information would you like to learn during the interview with the family? What questions would you ask? Have there been any changes in Clara’s home life that might have triggered the tantrums’? Do you know about her birth family? Do you know if any kind of mental disabilities such as bi-polar or schizophrenia? How does Clara throw the tantrum? Is it that she is just acting out or is something really wrong? This is important to know because a parent can tell if a child is just trying to get attention. How long now has Clara been attending this preschool? Did the parents do research on the school’s employees or did they just pick the first preschool they found? Have there been any new staff members to start working at the preschool since Clara has been throwing these tantrums? Have there been any deaths in the family human or animal? 2. In addition to the clinical interview, what other clinical assessment tools...
Words: 768 - Pages: 4
...affect a diagnosis. 1) Some criteria used for reaching a diagnosis cannot be observed directly. A patient analysis could take place in most cases so that a clinician could gain information about the patient’s symptoms that may be immediately observable in the clinical setting. If this information is not gathered by the clinician a misdiagnosis could be made. Subjective data may include information about the patient’s personality, behaviors or a patient’s reaction to information that cannot be directly from the patient due their inability or reluctance to speak with clinician directly. As an example, if a patient who did not present personality disorders in fear might be diagnosed as having a social phobia. A patient not being truthful has very serious consequences and one could not get the appropriate treatment needed. 2) Personality disorders can be similar to each other. There are several symptoms that overlap between different disorders in DSM listings. A clinician’s personal observation could misdiagnosis between one of these two disorders if the clinician relies only on information gathered in a clinical setting. Disorders such as obsessive-compulsive, anxiety, and personality disorder have many symptoms that are alike. If this was the case a clinician could misdiagnosis and treats the patient incorrectly giving improper medication and the wrong types of therapy. 3) People with different personalities can be given the same diagnosis The DSM-IV...
Words: 334 - Pages: 2
