A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Research Psychology), 2017 / ADHD is one of the most prevalent disorders in child psychiatry today. Whilst the phenomenon of ADHD is well researched in Europe and North America, there are limited studies available in South Africa that explore the link between ADHD and different forms of schooling. Furthermore, few studies focus on the children who have been socially positioned in this way. This study focused on the prevalence of ADHD with a particular aim to explore how gender, race and class play out in an unequal schooling system. The secondary aim was to contribute to the knowledge about adolescents’ own understandings and experiences of ADHD. The research was conducted in two distinct phases, Phase 1 included the administration of a demographic questionnaire to determine the prevalence of the disorder within four different Gauteng schools. Phase 2 of the project included semi-structured interviews to explore the understandings, perceptions and experiences of children living with this diagnosis. This study explored the prevalence of ADHD across four different schools in Gauteng. Results of the study propose that the diagnosis and prevalence of this phenomena is strongly influenced by gender, race and class, as the majority of children diagnosed are boys (65%), more than half are from upper class families (61%) and most of the children are white (71%). The adolescents who were interviewed indicated that teachers were mostly the initiators of their diagnosis due to deviations from classroom behaviour and academic performance. While the children claimed that the diagnosis and the medication had certain benefits, they also identified distinct disadvantages with the most notable adverse effects on mood and interactions with their peers. The predominant biomedical view of the disorder seemed to be internalised by the children which positioned them in a subordinate relationship with health care professionals. A strong theme of disempowerment emerged, with medical experts and mothers, identified as gatekeepers to their sense of agency. / XL2018

Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2012 / Background: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental behavioural disorder among school-age children, which in most cases continues into adolescence and adulthood and is mainly characterized by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. The aim of the study was to establish the relationship between ADHD symptoms (hyperactivity/impulsiveness and inattention) and child abuse (emotional abuse, neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse). Method: A total of 191 participants (without a clinical diagnosis of ADHD) participated in the study. The participants were assessed on a battery consisting of the BSSA (Barkley‘s Symptoms Scale for Adolescents) and CMIS (Child Maltreatment Interview Schedule). The ADHD scores on BSSA have been correlated with scores on the CMIS. The results were analysed using the Pearson‘s product-moment correlation to show a relationship between ADHD symptoms and a history of child abuse. Results: A positive, but weak relationship between ADHD symptoms and all the measured forms of child abuse was indicated, with inattention symptoms showing a slightly higher relationship than the hyperactivity/impulsiveness symptoms. Conclusion: There is a significant although weak relationship, between ADHD symptoms and all forms of child abuse in non-impaired adolescents.

Thesis (M.A.) - Simon Fraser University, 2005. / Theses (Faculty of Education) / Simon Fraser University. Also issued in digital format and available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis supervisor: Lee Anna Clark. Includes bibliographic references (p. 92-107).

Thesis (M. Ed.(Opv. Sielk.)--Universiteit van Pretoria, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ed. S.)--University of South Florida, 2003. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 142 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

A quantitave study was done on children who were diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders in primary schools. The main aim was to measure IQ and to find out if there are indicators of organicity. The hypotheses of the study were as follows: (i) Children diagnosed with ADHD will obtain lower scores on IQ tests than children not diagnosed with ADHD; (ii) Children diagnosed with ADHD have some form of neurological deficit or organicity The study consisted of a sample 25 children who were diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders and the children who were never diagnosed with the disorder. The sample and the control group range from the age of six (6) to 13 years. Data was collected using Bendor Visual Motor Gestalt Test and Senior South African Individual Scale Revised. Descriptive Statistics. Chi-square Test and Mann-Whitney Test were used to determine the difference between the sample and the control group. The results indicated that there is significant difference between children with ADHD and the control group on both verbal and non-verbal IQ tests. This means that children who were diagnosed with ADHD scored lower on measures •of IQ. The differences may have been due to IQ. or the ADHD group was distracted enough to perform significantly worse on reading. spelling, mathematics, comprehension and written tasks. The results on the Chi-square indicated that there is a relationship between the presence and ADHD and organicity. The findings in this study will aid teachers and parents (especially in African communities), to find out more about the children who they think are just problematic children.

The purpose of this study was to investigate educators perceptions of the impact of the / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

Previous research has identified motor deficits within the ADHD population, and indicates that these individuals are at an increased risk for difficulties relating to their motor development. The present study, which utilized discriminant function analysis, was unable to document areas of motor impairment for individuals diagnosed with ADHD. Specifically, no evidence of motor impairment was identified on tasks of motor coordination, fine motor dexterity, motor speed and grip strength, which measures the integrity of the motor system at the basic output level. Interestingly, results identified that individuals with ADHD were more proficient in their motor abilities than the normative population. Two mitigating factors were controlled for in this study and were found to impact performance on motor tasks. First, higher level thinking skills such as verbal comprehension, attention control, cognitive sequencing, working memory and executive functions appear to be more responsible for documented performance deficits than an underlying motor deficit. Secondly, the high prevalence of comorbid psychiatric and medical disorders, inherent to the ADHD population, appears to negatively impact performance on motor tasks. In general, individuals with only a diagnosis of ADHD consistently outperformed individuals who had been diagnosed with ADHD and comorbid disorders.This study also examined the sensory and subcortical abilities of individuals with ADHD. Results indicate that these children are similar to their same age peers in their visual perception, visual acuity, auditory discrimination and tactile perception. Finally, this study was unable to identify evidence of impairment in the subcortical abilities of ADHD individuals. In fact, individuals with only a diagnosis of ADHD outperformed the control group across a majority of tasks assessing subcortical abilities. Comorbidity also appears to negatively impact performance on sensory and subcortical tasks, especially for individuals with comorbid medical conditions. Overall, results from this study impact the field of research which previously identified motor performance deficits in the ADHD population. Further research is needed to examine the sensory and motor abilities of ADHD individuals to understand the performance abilities of individuals with ADHD. / Department of Educational Psychology

A quantitave study was done on children who were diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders in primary schools. The main aim was to measure IQ and to find out if there are indicators of organicity. The hypotheses of the study were as follows: (i) Children diagnosed with ADHD will obtain lower scores on IQ tests than children not diagnosed with ADHD; (ii) Children diagnosed with ADHD have some form of neurological deficit or organicity The study consisted of a sample 25 children who were diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders and the children who were never diagnosed with the disorder. The sample and the control group range from the age of six ( 6) to 13 years. Data was collected using Bendor Visual Motor Gestalt Test and Senior South African Individual Scale Revised. Descriptive Statistics, Chi-square Test and Mann-Whitney Test were used to determine the difference between the sample and the control group. The results indicated that there is significant difference between children with ADHD and the control group on both verbal and non-verbal IQ tests. This means that children who were diagnosed with ADHD scored lower on measures "of IQ. The differences may have been due to IQ. or the ADHD group was distracted enough to perform significantly worse on reading, spelling, mathematics, comprehension and written tasks. The results on the Chi-square indicated that there is a relationship between the presence and ADHD and organicity. The findings in this study will aid teachers and parents (especially in African communities), to find out more about the children who they think are just problematic children. ii A quantitative study was done on children who were diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders in primary schools. The main aim was to measure IQ and to find out if there are indicators of organicity. The hypotheses of the study were as follows: (i) Children diagnosed with ADHD will obtain lower scores on IQ tests than children not diagnosed with ADHD; (ii) Children diagnosed with ADHD have some form of neurological deficit or organicity The study consisted of a sample 25 children who were diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders and the children who were never diagnosed with the disorder. The sample and the control group range from the age of six ( 6) to 13 years. Data was collected using Bendor Visual Motor Gestalt Test and Senior South African Individual Scale Revised. Descriptive Statistics, Chi-square Test and Mann-Whitney Test were used to determine the difference between the sample and the control group. The results indicated that there is significant difference between children with ADHD and the control group on both verbal and non-verbal IQ tests. This means that children who were diagnosed with ADHD scored lower on measures "of IQ. The differences may have been due to IQ. or the ADHD group was distracted enough to perform significantly worse on reading, spelling, mathematics, comprehension and written tasks. The results on the Chi-square indicated that there is a relationship between the presence and ADHD and organicity. The findings in this study will aid teachers and parents (especially in African communities), to find out more about the children who they think are just problematic children. / M.Soc.Sc. (Clinical Psychology) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2006