Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Quick Facts Handout.pdf · Version 3/10/2016 12:17...

CHILDREN’S LEARNING CLINIC M.J. KOFLER, PH.D., DIRECTOR

Version 3/10/2016 12:17 PM by Dr. M.J. Kofler

Attention-Deficit/HyperactivityDisorder(ADHD):QuickFacts

1. ADHDisaneurodevelopmentaldisorder.Itisn’ta“new”disorder,anAmericanfad,a“phase”they’llgrowoutof,amotivationproblem,orlazyparenting.TheearliestdescriptioncomesfromHippocrates(490B.C.),whodescribedpatientswithan“overbalanceoffireoverwater”thatwereimpulsiveandhadproblemssustainingattention.RatesofADHDarehighlysimilararoundtheworld(3%to5%ofchildrenhaveADHD).Weknowthatitiscausedbyneurologicalfactors.Theirdifficultiesaren’tcausedbydiet,sugar,glutens,artificialcoloring,foodadditives,orpoorparenting.ADHDisabout80%genetic,whichmeansthatgenesplayabiggerroleinADHDthantheydoindeterminingyourhaircolor,intelligence,orhowlongyou’lllive.

2. KidswithADHDwon’t“growoutofit”.Wenowknowthatabout66%ofkidswithADHDcontinuetohaveADHDasadults,andalmostallofthemcontinuetohavedifficultiesinimportantareasoflifefunctioning.

3. Medicationisthebesttreatmentwehave,butit’snotacure.Stimulantmedicationresultsinhugeimprovementsinbehaviorforabout80%to90%ofchildrenwithADHD.Italsoappearstobeaprotectivefactoragainstlatersubstanceabuse.Ontheotherhand,medicationonlyworksondaystheytakeit,anddoesnotimproveschoolgrades,standardizedtestscores,orexecutivefunctioning.

4. Hyperactivitymaybefunctional.Weallmovearoundmoretohelpusstayalertandfocus.Nexttimeyou’reinalongmeeting,watchaseveryonestartstoshiftintheirchairsandmovearoundafterawhile.So…unlesstheirbehaviorisinterruptingtheclass,letkidsfidget,sitweirdintheirchairs,ordotheirworkstandingup.Reinforcethework,notthemotoractivity.

5. Breakdowninstructionsintoparts,writethemdown,usecharts,anddon’tgivemulti-stepdirections.OneofthebiggestproblemsformanychildrenwithADHDisworkingmemory,whichistheabilitytoholdthingsinyourbrainwhilethinkingaboutthosethings,orwhiledoingsomeothertask.SoifyoutellachildwithADHDto“goupstairs,putonyourpajamas,brushyourteeth,andpickoutabooktoreadbeforebed”,don’tbesurprisedtofindhimupstairsinhispajamasplayingwithhisfavoritetoy.Thisusuallyisn’toppositionalbehavior–it’saworkingmemoryproblem,andthechildprobablyhasnoideayouwantedhimtodosomethingotherthanputonhisPJs.Heheardyoujustfine,buttheotherstepsgotlostfrommemoryalongtheway.

6. Anewversionofourdiagnosticmanual,calledDSM-5,cameoutin2013,withimportantchangesforhowADHDisdiagnosed.Thebiggestchangewastheeliminationof“subtypes”.Usingthenewmanual,wenowdescribechildren’ssymptomsintermsof“currentpresentation”ratherthansubtypes.Thischangereflectsnewinformationsuggestingthatthe“subtypes”arenotdistinctdisorders,butratherpartofthesameADHD.Formostkids,whatwewerethinkingofasseparatesubtypeswasreallytheirsymptomswaxingandwaning.Sochildrenwhofallinonecategorynowoftenfallinadifferentcategorylater.OtherchangesincludedmovingADHDintotheNeurodevelopmentalDisorderscategory,andchangingtheageofonsetrequirementfromage7toage12.Thebehavioralsymptomsthemselvesremainthesame.

CHILDREN’S LEARNING CLINIC M.J. KOFLER, PH.D., DIRECTOR

Version 3/10/2016 12:17 PM by Dr. M.J. Kofler

AbouttheChildren’sLearningClinic(CLC)

TheChildren’sLearningClinic(CLC)isascientist-practitioner,researchtrainingclinicdirectedbyDr.Kofler.TheCLCisaffiliatedwiththeFSUPh.D.programinClinicalPsychology.WearealsoaffiliatedwiththeUniversityofVirginia’sYouth-NexCentertoPromoteEffectiveYouthDevelopment.WearelocatedinthePsychologyBuildingatFSU.

TheCLCofferscomprehensiveassessment,diagnostic,andtreatmentservicesforfamiliesofchildrensuspectedofADHD.TheCLCisascientist-practitionertrainingclinic,whichmeansthatweprovideevidence-basedclinicalserviceswiththecontextofaresearchclinic.ResearchintheCLCfocusesonunderstandingtherelationshipamongcognitive,behavioral,andeducationaloutcomesforchildrenwithADHDwithinthecontextofpositiveyouthdevelopment.ThegoalofCLCresearchistotranslatethesefindingsintoeffectivetreatmentsforchildrenwithADHD.

FamiliesmayqualifyforCLCassessmentandtreatmentservicesregardlessofinsuranceorabilitytopay.InterestedparentsshouldcalltheCLCintakelineat850-645-7423.AmemberoftheCLCwillthencontactyoutoansweryourquestionsandconductabrief(5-10minutes)screeninginterview.

AboutDr.Kofler

Dr.KoflerisalicensedclinicalpsychologistinFloridaandVirginia,andhaspublished more than 30 scientific articles and book chapters on topicsrelatedtochildhoodADHD.Dr.Kofler isarecipientoftheYoungScientistResearch Award by the national ADHD advocacy group CHADD. Hisresearch focuses on identifying strengths and building capabilities inchildrenwith ADHD. Currently, Dr. Kofler’s primary research goals are toidentifywaystoimproveADHDbehavioraltreatment,anddevelopADHD-centric,game-basedneurocognitivetraining.ThisresearchisfundedbytheNationalInstituteofMentalHealthandtheFSUPsychologyDepartment.

ContactInformation SocialMedia

Email:clc@psy.fsu.eduPhone:645-7423

Website:psy.fsu.edu/clcTwitter:@FSUchildFacebook:facebook.com/childrenslearningclinic

FSU DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY • CHILDREN’S LEARNING CLINIC 1107 W. CALL STREET • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32306-4301

(850) 645-7423 • FAX (850) 644-7739

Principal Investigator: Michael J. Kofler, Ph.D.