Thesis (M.A. (Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016. / Background: ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting 3 – 7% of school age children. The core symptoms of ADHD, hyperactivity, impulsiveness and inattentiveness often cause problems in many aspects of life, including interpersonal relationships. The problems associated with the disorder may also lead to poor self-esteem. Objective: To assess the impact of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms on interpersonal skills and self-esteem in a non-referred sample of primary school children meeting criteria for a diagnosis of ADHD. Method: Eighty-two children with ADHD (6 – 13 years) were selected using a convenient sample screened from primary schools in the Limpopo Province and were compared to 82 children without significant ADHD symptoms, who match the ADHD children on age and gender. The children were screened and diagnosed using the Disruptive Behaviour Disorders rating scale (DBD). They were assessed on two instruments: The PHSF (Personal, Home, Self and Formal) relations questionnaire was used for the measurement of interpersonal relationship while self-esteem was measured using the self-concept inventory of the Beck Self-Concept Inventory for youths [BSCI-Y]. The scores obtained on the two scales were compared for significant differences between the ADHD group and the non-ADHD comparisons as a possible function of gender. Results: Children with ADHD scored significantly higher (p < 0.001) on the scale that measured problems with interpersonal relationships (PHSF) than the non-ADHD comparison group. There was no effect of gender. The measurement instrument for self esteem (BSCI-Y) indicated that the children with ADHD had higher self-esteem than their non-ADHD comparisons (p < 0.001). Gender did not affect the difference between the groups. Conclusion: The findings indicated that children, who are inattentive, impulsive and over active, which are symptoms of ADHD, will have poorer interpersonal relationships than children without the disorder. Findings from the result of the measurement of self-esteem indicated that children with ADHD could have higher self-esteem than children without ADHD. The latter is in contrast with findings of most studies and may be ascribed to an unrealistic self-concept because of the young age of the participants or possible cultural factors.

Background. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent neuropsychiatric disorders in childhood. Besides inattention and hyperactivity, impulsivity is the third core symptom leading to diverse and serious problems. However, the neuronal mechanisms underlying impulsivity in ADHD are still not fully understood. This is all the more the case when patients with the ADHD combined subtype (ADHD-C) are considered who are characterized by both symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. Method. Combining high-density electroencephalography (EEG) recordings with source localization analyses, we examined what information processing stages are dysfunctional in ADHD-C (n = 20) compared with controls (n = 18). Results. Patients with ADHD-C made more impulsive errors in a Go/No-go task than healthy controls. Neurophysiologically, different subprocesses from perceptual gating to attentional selection, resource allocation and response selection processes are altered in this patient group. Perceptual gating, stimulus-driven attention selection and resource allocation processes were more pronounced in ADHD-C, are related to activation differences in parieto-occipital networks and suggest attentional filtering deficits. However, only response selection processes, associated with medial prefrontal networks, predicted impulsive errors in ADHD-C. Conclusions. Although the clinical picture of ADHD-C is complex and a multitude of processing steps are altered, only a subset of processes seems to directly modulate impulsive behaviour. The present findings improve the understanding of mechanisms underlying impulsivity in patients with ADHD-C and might help to refine treatment algorithms focusing on impulsivity.

This paper explores whether librarians have the tools to fulfil the requirements of the library law concerning patrons with ADHD and if there are any obstacles for librarians regarding this work; this is made possible by a survey sent to 38 libraries, resulting in 138 respondents. For data processing, evaluation and discussion, the study used a theoretical framework based on Säljö’s theory of the necessity of tools for human understanding and development, along with requirements listed by the Health and Human Services Department and IFLA for successfully working with people with ADHD. The results show that librarians do not have the required tools to work with patrons with ADHD and that the primary obstacles hindering them are a lack of knowledge, as well as the existence of misunderstandings regarding ADHD and the work with patrons with this diagnosis. The primary cause of these issues is an inadequate legal framework, which impacts all aspects connected to this work, from the education of librarians to their work with individual patrons within the daily operation of the libraries, adding to the stress that librarians are already experiencing in relation to their occupation.

This study investigates the effectiveness of an inquiry-based learning curriculum for middle school students with learning and/or attentional disabilities (LD and/or ADHD). The main questions asked were: To what extent can an inquiry-based learning curriculum focused on digital responsibility impact: (1) well-being; (2) smartphone usage; and (3) smartphone awareness among adolescents with LD and/or ADHD? Fifty middle school participants with LD and/or ADHD were divided into two groups, an experimental group and a control group. Findings showed a significant increase both in positive affect and in awareness of personal smartphone usage for experimental, but not control, participants, suggesting that inquiry-based learning may be an effective approach for teaching digital responsibility to students with LD and/or ADHD. Other findings indicated that social connectivity is a high priority for today's adolescents. Additional insights and implications are discussed.

The subject of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Ritalin as a method of treatment, has received a lot of media attention in recent years as it appears to be the most “popular” diagnosis for children who are difficult, who struggle to pay attention and who are impulsive and hyperactive. Some medical professionals are of the opinion that incidences of the disorder are increasing, while others believe that the disorder is being misdiagnosed. There is a significant overlap in the symptoms of ADHD and those of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In South Africa, where many children are exposed to traumatic stimuli on a regular and ongoing basis, health care professionals cannot afford to overlook the possibility that children exhibiting symptoms of ADHD may, in fact, be traumatised. However, when examining the criteria for PTSD we find that the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV) does not adequately describe the differences between adult and childhood PTSD and also does not adequately account for children who may be in an almost continuous state of traumatic stress. Since there is increasing evidence of the interaction between mind/emotions and body, it is plausible that the emotions of children with ADHD play an important role in their condition, particularly if the child has suffered traumatic stress. The researcher believes that children who experience continuous traumatic stress may develop maladaptive responses which may eventually become traits, and that ADHD may be one such response. The goal of this exploratory study was to gain insight into the thoughts and feelings of a few children (case studies) who have been diagnosed with ADHD and who are in the middle childhood phase of development. The first objective was to gather knowledge regarding ADHD, traumatic stress, biological responses to trauma and to describe middle childhood and gestalt play therapy. In the empirical study, gestalt play therapy techniques were used to assess whether children with ADHD had suffered traumatic stress (particularly the loss of safety and security) prior to the diagnosis and whether they are able to express their thoughts and emotions appropriately. Since the study was qualitative, the researcher made use of observation and unstructured interviews (including play therapy sessions) to obtain background information from the parents and to explore the thoughts, feelings and behaviours of children with ADHD from their perspective. This study falls under applied research, undertaken with a view to creating preventative measures and improving interventions for children with ADHD and children who have suffered traumatic stress. The final objective of the study was to draw conclusions and make recommendations in order to promote awareness of the likelihood of traumatic stress in children with ADHD in South Africa. The researcher concluded that the respondents in this study have indeed suffered traumatic stress in the form of loss of safety and security, related to an inadequate bond with a responsive, nurturing caregiver. In addition, they have difficulty expressing their thoughts and emotions. / Dissertation (Magister Socialis Diligentiae (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (DPhil (Communication Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / DPhil / Unrestricted

Thirty one students with learning disabilities (LD) and/or with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) completed a combined Academic Attributional Style and Coping with Academic Failures Questionnaire. The reformulated learned helplessness model (Abramson, Seligman, & Teasdale, 1978) predicted that students with negative attributional styles (i.e., internal-stable-global attributions) experienced motivational, cognitive, and emotional deficits. The present study examined college achievement (grade point average) of students with LD and/or ADHD. The Prediction that students with LD and/or ADHD with negative attributional styles would achieve less academic success than comparable students with positive attributional styles (i.e., extenal-unstable-specific attributions) was supported by the research results.

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Title: Differences in reaction rate in children with ADHD and the general population of the same age. Problem definition: ADHD is a neuropsychological disorder occurring in part of the pediatric population (5-8%). The scientific public mentions the existence of the so-called hyperfocus, ie the ability to significantly concentrate in children diagnosed with ADHD, especially in the case of these children being interested in the task. Methodologically correctly compiled and performed testing of the reaction rate of these children could confirm or refute this assumption. Aims: The aim of the work is to find out whether and possibly what effect the diagnosis of ADHD in children has on the reaction rate. Hypotheses: H1: The reaction rate in individuals with ADHD will be on average the same or higher than in individuals of the same age of the healthy population. H2: The difference between the individual experiments will be greater in children with ADHD than in individuals of the same age of the healthy population. H3: The individual with fastest reaction ability with ADHD will have the same or better result as the individual with the fastest reaction of the same aged healthy population. Methods: Testing for the purposes of this diploma thesis took place in the ROSA center. 12 probands in the tested group...

Thesis consist of theoretical part and empirical part. In the theoretical part of the thesis the author will look into the characteristics of the ADHD syndrome and its subtypes. It will also focus on other issues related to ADHD, such as specific learning disabilities. The author will define the concept of ADHD, including its etiology. The theoretical part will also contain a part that will be devoted to diagnostics, treatment and medication of pupils with ADHD. This part will describe the specific manifestations of ADHD syndrome in each developement stage of a child. There will also be a part dedicated to special education needs and support measures that could be applied to an inclusive approach in education for pupils with ADHD. The research part will use a qualitative research method, including a case study, interview and observation. In this part of the work, the author will focus on two case studies of students with ADHD, supplemented by an interview with the mother of twins. The author intended to include an interview with teachers, but due to GDPR rules, teachers refused to provide one. For this reason, interview will be substituded with an observation.In this observation, we will focus firstly on a work of a pedagogue specialist in a pedagogical-psychological counseling center during a...