Current Issues in Life-Span Development (Adhd)

Current Issue in Life-Span Development (ADHD)

From the time of conception to the day an individual leaves this earth people constantly change and develop. Some of these changes are a result of individual life choices. Most is the product of biological and psychological heritage. Currently, there are many issues in the field of life-span development. Because I work with children in an elementary school setting, I have chosen to write about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). I see children daily who struggle with this disorder. These children are misunderstood by many because of lack of knowledge on this disorder. ADHD is a highly controversial disorder. Some believe ADHD to be a mental illness/disability whereas others perceive it to be a neurological description of a normal condition. A large number of experts see ADHD as a neurological disorder influenced by environmental factors even though research has proven differences in brain structure between people living with ADHD and those not affected by the disorder.

Imagine how it would feel living in a world in which all sights, sounds, and thoughts were constantly changing. It would be lonely and confusing. A person could become so lost inside him or herself that it may become difficult to even be aware of the simplest thing. This is the life of a person living with ADHD. Hyperactivity Disorder was once called hyperkinesis or minimal brain dysfunction. It is a common childhood disorder that affects three to five percent of all children and is likely to occur two to three times more in boys than in girls. ADHD can continue through adulthood.

People afflicted with this disorder can have symptoms ranging from difficulties staying focused and paying attention to controlling behavior and experiencing hyperactivity. Three subtypes are associated with this disorder. They are predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, predominantly inattentive, and combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive....