There are some subtle differences between ADD and ADHD that may not be overtly obvious to parents or teachers. Even if you have worked ADHD students in the past, you may not understand ADD when you encounter it in a student. ADD stands for Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD as an added component of hyperactivity. In both of these conditions, we see many of the same symptoms.
One of them is an inability to concentrate on normal everyday tasks. No one likes to complete certain kinds of tasks, but there are hoops we all must jump through in life. ADD students have a remarkable amount of trouble jumping through those hoops. Memory is a big problem when it comes to these kinds of tasks. ADD students consistently miss deadlines and can’t get to their appointments on time. They are imaginative and creative quite often, and they are often more intelligent than the average person. Yet they have a lot of trouble completing some of the most basic tasks of human life.
There is a lot of controversy about whether or not to medicate people with ADD. ADHD has the component of hyperactivity, so it seems a bit clearer in this case. Children who are too hyper to sit in their chairs are basically medicated so they are no longer a nuisance to the rest of the class. Whether or not this is actually a suitable treatment that helps them get the most out of their education and development as a human being is highly debated. It is good for those around them, but is it good for them? That is the question. There are many side effects that come with the medication can affect both the physical and psychological health of the student. Read the rest of this entry »