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Hyperactivity: ADHD/ ADD



Since, no norms are available for defining normal activity level. So, what is hyperactive for one person or one age group may be quite average for others.

Motor over activity, restlessness inattentiveness and distractibility are the some sign of Hyperactivity.

Hyperactivity (according to DSM-II) describes a syndrome with the behavioral manifestations as "Over Activity, Restlessness, Distractibility and Short Attention Span" (APA, 1968). DSM-III renames this disorder “Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder/ Attention Deficit Disorder” (i.e., ADHD or ADD)".


Distractibility is the main reason for the child being a low performer on attentional tasks as compared to the normal child.

 Hyperactivity may be pervasive or situational.

 Any normality or deficit must be considered in relation to the cognitive maturity of the child. Attention deficits among ADD children may be caused by maturational lags in memory and attention.

 Children may be impulsive in different ways and to different extends as a result of variations, in environmental, cognitive and constitutional factors.

 A major problem is that hyperactivity is found to be associated with a number of behavioral problems which includes aggression, conduct problem, and learning disability.

 Deficit means failure to orient, a deficit in impulse control, a deficit in processing strategy, deficit in vigilance, and failure of sustained attention.

 Different researchers have defined the aspects of attention differently:

·         Moray (1969) has mentioned degree of Attention, Mental Concentration, Vigilance, Set and Selective Attention as the aspects of Attention.

·         According to Swets & Kristofferson (1970) selective and sustained aspects are the two aspects of attention.

·         Kahneman (1973) mentioned the selective and Intensive aspects as the aspects of attention.

·         According to Posner & Bries (1971) Alertness, Selectivity and Conscious processing are the main aspects of attention.

·         Posner & Peterson (1990) differentiate between two basic systems-anterior and posterior on the basis of neurological data.


Note:

 ADHD children benefit from having short breaks in academic task demands. ADHD children have been found to perform more poorly on auditory and visual attention.

Possibly there is also a link between attentional functions and activity level.

“Hyperactivity is caused by a desire to secure optimal stimulation”- (Zentall, 1975)

 The normal activity level fails to stimulate the child sufficiently, and the constant movement from one activity to another is part of this homeostatic balance to increase environments stimulation.


By: 
Subodh Kumar (B.Tech, M.Tech-CSE)
Scientist-Brain Signals Computing,
Brain Behaviour Research Foundation of India (BBRFI)


References for image:
1. https://s.eximg.jp/expub/feed/Hnavi/2017/Hnavi_35026646/Hnavi_35026646_b-ba9c-d3bf14274f3al_1.png
2.      http://s2.dmcdn.net/EbRA8/1280x720-Lqn.jpg
3.      http://docplayer.org/docs-images/70/63900173/images/14-0.jpg

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