3 - Impulse Control Disorder
1. The Video Clip - Watch, Listen or Read
This part of the workshop will offer information about problems with eating and/or body image. These kinds of problems are most often seen in young women, but can also be present to a much smaller extent in young men.
Select the desired media link below to watch the video, listen to the audio, or read the transcript.
Watch the Video
Listen to the Audio
Read the Transcript
(right-click to download text file)
2. Notes
In this video, Dr. DiPasquale offers a brief overview of Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD).
This is usually diagnosed at school start, so the initial onset of these disorders is hard to determine. Incidence rates are estimated at about 3-5% of the school-aged population. These disorders are often co-morbid with learning disorders, mood disorders, and/or low self-esteem.
Students with ADD/ADHD benefit from a teacher who is able to break their work into small chunks and check their work frequently. Immediate feedback is helpful to these students, as are frequent breaks and opportunities to get up and move around. One particularly effective teaching strategy is, when giving instructions to the class, call out the name of the student with ADD/ADHD first, make eye contact, and then outline the class instructions. After outlining the instructions to the class and setting them to work, again approach that child one on one and review the instructions and address any questions they may have.
Treatment for ADD/ADHD may include medication and/or supports from school psychological staff.
3. Discussion Question
There has long been controversy surrounding the treatment of ADD/ADHD in young people with prescription drugs. What are your experiences with students who are medically treated for attentional disorders? Are drugs effective in assisting students with their learning? Are there alternatives that help?
Please post your observations, comments, and questions below.
I currently work with a student who has the diagnosis of ADHD. He was on medication last year but has since stopped taking the medication. His behaviour and attention span have deteriorated significantly. His outburst are happening daily and are aggressive in nature. I think for him, medication is necessary. As his frustration is mainly due to his inability to focus resulting in his not understanding his school work.
I have seen behaviour modification programs work for others with ADHD. Again, it depends on the student. We have to treat each case individually and decide what works best.
I have worked with several students diagnoses with ADHD. SOme were medicated and some were not. I do beleive that with the proper plan a child can function without medication. I have seen some cases where are student has been on medication for a long time that they can not function without it. There are no coping skills set in place becuase the student behaved and appeared focused when in school. What happens when the child is taken off the medication? They will not know how to cope.
In my experience medication is successful only when there are also behaviour modification programs/strategies in place. While the medication can aid with the attention-focus, the teacher must also continue to deliver lessons in such a way that is managable to the student with ADHD. Behaviour programs are also important because many students are able to develop coping strategies as they age and mature that allow them to live medication-free but they must first have the concentration to learn these strategies.