Attention Deficit HyperactivITY Disorder ADHD  Term Paper

Swanson, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, CA 92715



Gender:



Age: ____ Grade:



Ethnicity (circle one which best applies): African-American Asian Caucasian Hispanic



Other



Completed by:____ Type of Class:



Class size:



For each item, check the column which best describes this child:



Not at Just a Quite



Bit



Much



1. Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork or tasks



2. Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities



3. Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly



4. Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties



5. Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities



6. Often avoids, dislikes, or reluctantly engages in tasks requiring sustained mental effort



7. Often loses things necessary for activities (e.g., toys, school assignments, pencils, or books)



8. Often is distracted by extraneous stimuli



9. Often is forgetful in daily activities



10. Often has difficulty maintaining alertness, orienting to requests, or executing directions



11. Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat



12. Often leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected



13. Often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate



14. Often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly



15. Often is "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor"



16. Often talks excessively



17. Often blurts out answers before questions have been completed



18. Often has difficulty awaiting turn



19. Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations/games)



20. Often has difficulty sitting still, being quiet,... inhibiting impulses in...classroom or at home



21. Often loses temper



22. Often argues with adults



23. Often actively defies or refuses adult requests or rules



24. Often deliberately does things that annoy other people



25. Often blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior



26. Often touchy or easily annoyed by others



27 Often is angry and resentful



28. Often is spiteful or vindictive



29. Often is quarrelsome



30. Often is negative, defiant, disobedient, or hostile toward authority figures



31. Often makes noises (e.g., humming or odd sounds)



32. Often is excitable, impulsive



33. Often cries easily



34. Often is uncooperative



35. Often acts "smart"



36. Often is restless or overactive



37. Often disturbs other children



38. Often changes mood quickly and drastically



39. Often easily frustrated if demand are not met immediately



40. Often teases other children and interferes with their activities



Check the column which best describes this child: Not at Just a Quite Very



Bit Much



41. Often is aggressive to other children (e.g., picks fights or bullies)



42. Often is destructive with property of others (e.g., vandalism)



43. Often is deceitful (e.g., steals, lies, forges, copies the work of others, or "cons" others)



44. Often and seriously violates rules (e.g....truant, runs away, or completely ignores class rules)



45. Has persistent pattern of violating the basic rights of others or major societal norms



46. Has episodes of failure to resist aggressive impulses (to assault others or to destroy property)



47. Has motor or verbal tics (sudden, rapid, recurrent, nonrhythmic motor or verbal activity)



48. Has repetitive motor behavior (e.g., hand waving, body rocking, or picking at skin)



49. Has obsessions (persistent and intrusive inappropriate ideas, thoughts, or impulses)



50. Has compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts to reduce anxiety or distress)



51. Often is restless or seems keyed up or on edge



52. Often is easily fatigued



53. Often has difficulty concentrating (mind goes blank)



54. Often is irritable



55. Often has muscle tension



56. Often has excessive anxiety and worry (e.g., apprehensive expectation)



57. Often has daytime sleepiness (unintended sleeping in inappropriate situations)



58. Often has excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior



59. Often has need for undue admiration, grandiose behavior, or lack of empathy



60. Often has instability in relationships with others, reactive mood, and impulsivity



61 Sometimes for at least a week has inflated self-esteem or grandiosity



62. Sometimes for at least a week is more talkative than usual or seems pressured to keep talking



63. Sometimes for at least a week has flight of ideas or says that thoughts are racing



64. Sometimes for at least a week has elevated, expansive or euphoric mood



65. Sometimes for at least a week is excessively involved in pleasurable but risky activities



66. Sometimes for at least 2 weeks has depressed mood (sad, hopeless, discouraged)



67. Sometimes for at least 2 weeks has irritable or cranky mood (not just when frustrated)



68. Sometimes for at least 2 weeks has markedly diminished interest or pleasure in most activities



69. Sometimes for at least 2 weeks has psychomotor agitation (even more active than usual)



70. Sometimes for at least 2 weeks has psychomotor retardation (slowed down in most activities)



71. Sometimes for at least 2 weeks is fatigued or has loss of energy



72. Sometimes for at least 2 weeks has feelings of worthlessness or excessive, inappropriate guilt



73. Sometimes for at least 2 weeks has diminished ability to think or concentrate



74. Chronic low self-esteem most of the time for at least a year



75. Chronic poor concentration or difficulty making decisions most of the time for at least a year



76. Chronic feelings of hopelessness most of the time for at least a year



77. Currently is hypervigilant (overly watchful or alert) or has exaggerated startle response



78. Currently is irritable, has anger outbursts, or has difficulty concentrating



79. Currently has an emotional (e.g., nervous, worried, hopeless, tearful) response to stress



80. Currently has a behavioral (e.g., fighting, vandalism, truancy) response to stress



81. Has difficulty getting started on classroom assignments



82. Has difficulty staying on task for an entire classroom period



83. Has problems in completion of work on classroom assignments



84. Has problems in accuracy or neatness of written work in the classroom



85. Has difficulty attending to a group classroom activity or discussion



86. Has difficulty making transitions to the next topic or classroom period



87. Has problems in interactions with peers in the classroom



88. Has problems in interactions with staff (teacher or aide)



89. Has difficulty remaining quiet according to classroom rules ____ ____ ____ ____ 90. Has difficulty staying seated according to classroom rules



Swanson, N.d.; see Appendix B for "Scoring Instructions for the SNAP-IV-C Rating Scale")



Treatment Tactics



Antipsychotic Medicines the following excerpts from 2006 University Wire release relate critical concerns regarding treatment of ADHD with drugs.



The Daily Universe) (U-WIRE) PROVO, Utah -- Risks of serious injury and even death associated with stimulants to treat attention-deficit (hyperactivity) disorder merit stricter warning labels for those drugs, a federal panel said



The panel advised the Food and Drug Administration to add a "black box" warning to methylphenidates like Ritalin to emphasize potential cardiovascular problems the drugs could cause. Although the FDA doesn't need to heed the panel's advice, it often does.



The panel's announcement came after an FDA database search found 25 deaths -- including 19 children -- linked to the stimulants in the past five years.…