Neuroscience for Kids - ADHD
ADHD Gets Some Attention(Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
Attention Disorder Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD) affects between 1.5 and 3.5 million school-age children in
the U.S., or an estimated 5% of all boys and 2% of all girls. Why ADHD
affects more boys than girls is a mystery at this point.
Up to 60% of
these children will continue to have symptoms into adulthood.
to the National Institutes of Health, more than a million children take
prescription medicines to control hyperactive behavior.
The estimated
cost to schools is about 3 billion dollars.
If you had ADHD, you might have had trouble reading that
first paragraph without getting distracted. You might have thought of
other things to do.
You might have looked around the room, focusing on
things other than the computer screen. You might have even gotten up and
wandered off. No wonder children with ADHD have trouble being in school
and focusing on school work.
Contents of this Page
to Look For
Almost all
people at some point exhibit some of the symptoms of ADHD. We all get
we all have had trouble finishing work or tasks.
However, children with ADHD are, in general, , less able to recognize appropriate social
behavior, and less able to communicate than children without ADHD of the
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM-IV) published by the American Psychiatric Association has a very
specific listing of behaviors that must be observed before a diagnosis of
ADHD is made.
There are many reasons other than ADHD why children may have these
behaviors.
Infections, learning disabilities, or educational issues may
result in symptoms similar to ADHD.
Patterns of behavior that may indicate
Inattention
Being easily distracted
Failing to pay attention to details and making careless mistakes
Forgetting things, such as pencils, that are needed to complete a
Rarely following directions completely or properly
Hyperactivity
Not being able to sit still
Talking non-stop
Leaving seat when sitting is expected/instructed
Impulsivity
Being unable to suppress impulses such as making inappropriate
Shouting out answers before a question is finished
Hitting other people
Behavior which puts one in danger, such as dashing into
the street
days, for some reason, these symptoms may be absent, leading others
to think that the person with ADHD can control the behaviors. A definite
diagnosis is difficult because there are no tests that consistently detect
ADHD. A physician can only observe behaviors and guess whether the child
Many children have trouble concentrating, or may not be in a
mood to cooperate on the day they see the doctor. This could lead to an
incorrect diagnosis.
ADHD must be diagnosed by a health care
professional who specializes in these types of disorders in
cooperation with parents and teachers.
the Cause The cause of ADHD
is not clear-cut. It
appears that certain receptors in the brain which normally respond to the
neurotransmitter called dopamine are not working properly. Most likely,
dopamine is not being produced at normal levels in the brain. Recent
work in adults points to a defect in an enzyme called dopa
decarboxylase which helps make dopamine.
This defect in dopamine
production occurs in the anterior frontal cortex, an area associated with
cognitive processes such as focusing and attention.
shows that children who were born weighing less than 1500 grams (3.3
pounds) or who had birth complications may be more prone to ADHD.
resistance to thyroid hormones to hyperactivity
and lack of impulse control, but it is unclear how this impacts ADHD.
Other factors which are being investigated to see what role
they may play in ADHD are exposure during pregnancy to:
Toxins (such as lead)
Drugs (such as alcohol or cocaine)
According to the , ADHD is not usually caused by:
Too much TV
Food allergies
Excess sugar
Poor home life
Poor schools
Increasing evidence suggests that ADHD is an inherited
condition. If one identical twin has symptoms of ADHD, the other twin has
a 75-91% chance of sharing the same trait. Children who have ADHD are
likely to have one close relative who also has ADHD. One-third of all
fathers who had ADHD when they were young have children who have ADHD.
Adoption studies provide more evidence of a genetic link to ADHD:
biological relatives of children with ADHD have a higher chance of having
ADHD than adoptive relatives of children with ADHD.
Signs Studies in the past few
years have shown that boys with ADHD tend to have brains that are more
symmetrical in shape. Three structures in the
than in non-ADHD boys of the same age:
prefrontal cortex, caudate nucleus, and the globus pallidus. The
prefrontal cortex is thought to be the brain's "" the other
two parts translate the commands into action.
demonstrates that not only are some of the structures
slightly different, but the brain may use these areas differently. By taking a
brain scan, researchers have noticed that boys with ADHD have an abnormal
increase of activity in two structures: the frontal lobe and striatal
areas below it. These areas work in part to control voluntary action. So
the ADHD boys were working harder to control their impulses than non-ADHD
boys. Once given Ritalin, this abnormal activity quieted down. This effect
was not seen in the non-ADHD boys. So Ritalin may act differently on ADHD
brains compared to "normal" brains.
Although the brain scan, called functional magnetic resonance imaging
(fMRI), is expensive--about $1500--and may not be covered by insurance, it
may provide a more accurate way to diagnose ADHD. As science explores more
of the mysteries of the brain, ADHD may be thought of more as a disability
or disorder, rather than a behavioral problem.
Three medications classified as stimulants are used to control the
symptoms of ADHD.
Generic Name
Brand Name
Length of Action
Methylphenidate
Ritalin3-8 hours
DextroamphetamineDexedrine, Dextrostat3-8
Mixed salts of a single-entity
amphetamineAdderall5-6 hours
PemolineCylert5-10
These medications can be
addictive in teenagers and adults, but they have not been found to be
addictive in children with ADHD. Nine out of 10 children improve on one of
these stimulants, so if one does not work, the others are tried. If these
medications do not work, some children respond well to antihistamines,
usually prescribed for allergies. Clonidine, a drug normally used to treat
hypertension, also alleviates some symptoms of ADHD. With any of these
medications, adjusting the dosage for each child is vital for treating the
symptoms of ADHD.
People who do NOT have ADHD
may also respond to stimulants and may find that their attention and
ability to focus will improve. This reaction does not mean that they have
ADHD. It is not recommended for people without a diagnosis of ADHD to use
these drugs. No one knows if stimulants have the long-term effects.
Ritalin is the best known
drug used to treat ADHD. It was first used in the 1950s to treat
narcolepsy, an illness where people suddenly fall asleep at irregular
It works by making more dopamine available in the brain by
reducing dopamine reuptake.
Therefore, dopamine can stay in the synapse
for a longer time.
Ritalin curbs symptoms such as hyperactivity and other
behavioral problems, but it does not improve IQ.
Ritalin is being prescribed at an astonishing rate.
Statistics mentioned
in a 1998 TIME magazine article are telling: Ritalin production in the US
has increased more than sevenfold in the past eight years. Ninety-percent
of it is consumed by people in the US.
Why have the prescriptions skyrocketed? Part of the reason may
be pressure--pressure from teachers for children to behave, pressure from
parents for their children to do well in school and to succeed in other
pursuits, and pressure from society for children to do more and better, at
a younger age.
Ritalin has side effects that include irritability, decreased appetite,
inability to sleep, depression, and personality changes. With the increase
in information about where dopamine may be deficient, medication could be
designed to target those deficient areas instead of increasing dopamine
production in the entire brain. This may reduce the side effects
associated with Ritalin and other drug medications.
Ritalin is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for children, but
there are worries about its long-term effects.
Ritalin affects
the brain in a way very similar to cocaine, one of the most addictive
substances known. Are children who take Ritalin more likely to use illegal
drugs in the future? Are they more likely to smoke as adults?
There is reason for this concern. Rats who were exposed to stimulants were
more likely to help themselves to cocaine, suggesting that early exposure
to some drugs may "prime" a person for future drug use. Data on the link
between Ritalin and later substance abuse are controversial. Some studies
show that Ritalin makes people more prone to addiction to certain
substances. Other researchers insist that children with ADHD are
not more likely to use drugs of any type later in life.
Some studies show that boys with ADHD who are treated with stimulants are
less likely to abuse drugs in the future than are
boys with ADHD who are not treated.
Prescription medications help control the symptoms of ADHD, but other
therapies, such as psychotherapy and behavioral therapy, can also help
children with ADHD. Many experts now advocate combining drugs with
Other helpful approaches include: creative teaching, visual
signs to remind children of the task at hand, constant reinforcement,
adding rules and structure to the daily routine, special education, and
other techniques used for learning disabled students.
The immediate problem with this is that insurance companies will be more
likely to cover the cost of a pill, but may hesitate to cover long-term
therapy sessions. Thus, often the treatment for ADHD is focused on the
short-term, not on the long-term.
Strategies
The NIH booklet on ADHD lists ways for people with ADHD to cope better at
work or school:
When necessary, ask for instructions again--don't guess about what you're
supposed to do.
Break large or complex tasks into smaller jobs. Set deadlines for each
tasks and reward yourself when you complete each one.
Each day make a "to do" list. Use a calendar to keep you on track.
Work in a quiet area. Do one thing at a time. Give yourself short
Create a routine. Do the same things in the same order each day.
Eat a balanced diet, exercise, and get enough sleep each
Watch your Head!
indicate that children with ADHD may be . And not only that, but the injuries were more severe
than in children without ADHD of the same age and gender.
This is one
more reason to put on a helmet when riding a bike, skating, rollerblading,
or skateboarding.
The Road Ahead
scientists have gained much information in the past few years,
ADHD is keeping some of its secrets. Why does it affect more boys than
girls? Is ADHD "real" or is society simply labeling children who are
having difficulties? And how does dopamine fit into this? Is Ritalin the
beginning of a drug dependency or an antidote for needing illegal drugs in
order to function? Are the abnormalities in a child with ADHD the same as
those seen in adults who have ADHD? Much more work still lies
and further information can be obtained
National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health . NIH Publications #96-3572, reprinted 1996
Gibbs, Nancy, "The Age of Ritalin," TIME Magazine, Nov. 30, 1998,
pages 86-96
Science Daily
Magazine, Aug. 14, 1998
Science Daily
Magazine, June 6, 1997
Science Daily
Magazine, Nov. 24, 1998
Science Daily, March 12, 1997
Katusic, S.K., Barbaresi, W.J., Colligan, R.C., Weaver, A.L., Leibson,
C.L. and Jacobsen S.J., Psychostimulant treatment and risk for substance
abuse among young adults with a history of attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder: a population-based, birth cohort study, J. Child Adolesc.
Psychopharmacol., 15:764-76, 2005.请在这里输入关键词：
科目：高中英语
题型：阅读理解
Everyone has got two personalities—the one that is shown to the world and the other that is secret and real．You don't show your secret personality when you're awake because you can control your behaviour，but when you're asleep， your sleeping position shows the real you．In a normal night，of course，people frequently change their position．The important position is the one that you go to sleep in．
If you go to sleep on your back，you're a very open person．You normally trust people and you are easily influenced by fashion or new ideas．You don't like to upset people，so you never express your real feelings．You're quite shy and you aren't very confident．
If you sleep on your stomach，you are a rather secretive（不坦率的）person．You worry a lot and you're always easily upset．You're very stubborn（顽固的），but you aren't very ambitious．You usually live for today not for tomorrow．This means that you enjoy having a good time．
If you sleep curled up（卷曲），you are probably a very nervous person．You have a low opinion of yourself and so you're often defensive．You're shy and you don't normally like meeting people．You prefer to be on your own．You're easily hurt．
If you sleep on your side，you have usually got a well-balanced personality．You know your strengths and weaknesses．You're usually careful． You have a confident personality．You sometimes feel anxious，but you don't often get depressed．You always say what you think even if it annoys people．
According to the writer，you naturally show your secret and real personality _____.
A．only in a normal night
B．only when you go to sleep
C．only when you refuse to show yourself to the world
D．only when you change sleeping position
Which is NOT mentioned in the second paragraph about a person's personality？
A．He or she is always open with others．
B．He or she always likes new ideas earlier than others．
C．He or she is always easily upset．
D．He or she tends to believe in others．
Point out which sentence is used to show the personality of a person who is used to sleeping on his or her stomach？
A．He or she is careful not to offend others．
B．He or she doesn't want to stick to his or her opinion．
C．He or she can't be successful in any business．
D．He or she likes to bring others happiness．
Maybe you don't want to make friends with a person who sleeps curled up．Why？
A．He or she would rather be alone than communicate with you．
B．He or she is rarely ready to help you．
C．He or she prefers staying at home to going out．
D．He or she wouldn't like to get help from you．
It appears that the writer tends to think highly of the person who sleeps on one side because ______ ．
A．he or she always shows sympathy for people
B．he or she is confident，but not stubborn
C．he or she has more strengths than weaknesses
D. he or she often considers annoying people
科目：高中英语
来源：年广东广雅中学高二第一学期期中考试英语试卷（补考）
题型：阅读理解
Everyone has got two personalities — the one that is shown to the world and the other that is secret and real．You don’t show your secret personality when you’re awake because you can control your behavior，but when you’re asleep， your sleeping position shows the real you．In a normal night，of course，people frequently change their position．The important position is the one that you go to sleep in． If you go to sleep on your back，you’re a very open person．You normally trust people and you are easily influenced by fashion or new ideas．You don’t like to upset people，so you never express your real feelings．You’re quite shy and you aren’t very confident． If you sleep on your stomach，you are a rather secretive（不坦率的）person．You worry a lot and you’re always easily upset．You’re very stubborn（顽固的），but you aren’t very ambitious．You usually live for today not for tomorrow．This means that you enjoy having a good time． If you sleep curled up（卷曲），you are probably a very nervous person．You have a low opinion of yourself and so you’re often defensive．You’re shy and you don’t normally like meeting people．You prefer to be on your own．You’re easily hurt． If you sleep on your side，you have usually got a well-balanced personality．You know your strengths and weaknesses．You’re usually careful． You have a confident personality．You sometimes feel anxious，but you don’t often get depressed．You always say what you think even if it annoys people． 【小题1】According to the writer，you naturally show your secret and real personality __________.A．only in a normal night B．only when you go to sleep C．only when you refuse to show yourself to the world D．only when you change sleeping position【小题2】Which is NOT mentioned in the second paragraph about a person’s personality？A．He or she is always open with others．B．He or she always likes new ideas earlier than others．C．He or she is always easily upset．D．He or she tends to believe in others．【小题3】Point out which sentence is used to show the personality of a person who is used to sleeping on his or her stomach？A．He or she is careful not to offend others．B．He or she doesn’t want to stick to his or her opinion．C．He or she can’t be successful in any business．D．He or she likes to bring others happiness．【小题4】Maybe you don’t want to make friends with a person who sleeps curled up．Why？A．He or she would rather be alone than communicate with you．B．He or she is rarely ready to help you．C．He or she prefers staying at home to going out．D．He or she wouldn’t like to get help from you．【小题5】It appears that the writer tends to think highly of the person who sleeps on one side because ________________．A．he or she always shows sympathy for people B．he or she is confident，but not stubborn C．he or she has more strengths than weaknesses D．he or she often considers annoying people
科目：高中英语
来源：学年吉林长春实验中学高二上第一次月考英语A卷试卷（带解析）
题型：阅读理解
Everyone has got two personalities — the one that is shown to the world and the other that is secret and real. You don’t show your secret personality when you’re awake because you can control your behaviour, but when you’re asleep, your sleeping position shows the real you. In a normal night, of course, people frequently change their position. The important position is the one that you go to sleep in.If you go to sleep on your back, you’re a very open person. You normally trust people and you are easily influenced by fashion or new ideas. You don’t like to upset people, so you never express your real feelings. You’re quite shy and you aren’t very confident.If you sleep on your stomach, you are a rather secretive person. You worry a lot and you’re always easily upset. You’re very stubborn, but you aren’t very ambitious. You usually live for today not for tomorrow. This means that you enjoy having a good time.If you sleep on curled up, you are probably a very nervous person. You have a low opinion of yourself and so you’re often defensive. You’re shy and you don’t normally like meeting people. You prefer to be on your own. You’re easily hurt.If you sleep on your side, you have usually got a well-balanced personality. You know your strengths and weakness. You’re usually careful. You have a confident personality. You sometimes feel anxious, but you don’t often get depressed. You always say what you think even if it annoys people.【小题1】According to the writer, you naturally show your secret and real personality _______.A．only in a normal nightB．only when you go to sleepC．only when you refuse to show yourself to the worldD．only when you change sleeping position【小题2】Maybe you don’t want to make friends with a person who sleeps curled up. Why?A．He or she would rather be alone than communicate with you.B．He or she is rarely ready to help you.C．He or she prefers staying at home to going out.D．He or she wouldn’t like to get help from you.【小题3】 It appears that the writer tends to think highly of the person who sleeps on one side because _______.A．he or she always shows sympathy for peopleB．he or she is confident, but not stubbornC．he or she has more strengths than weaknessD．he or she often considers annoying people【小题4】The writer of the passage is probably a _______.A．novelistB．reporterC．psychologistD．professor
科目：高中英语
来源：学年辽宁省抚顺市六校联合体高一下期末考试英语卷
题型：阅读理解
Do you blank out, freeze up or feel so nervous in exams that you have trouble writing answers to questions that you knew just last night? If so, you likely have a case of test anxiety. But, don’t panic. By recognizing the problem, you are taking the first step towards overcoming it.Believe it or not, a touch of nervousness can sharpen your mind, allowing you to perform more quickly. This is because under stress, the body releases the hormone adrenaline (肾上腺素), which prepares it for something important that will happen. However, too much anxiety can result in sleeplessness, loss of appetite（食欲） before tests, and poor performances. Some people might feel shaky, hot, or even sick.If you worry a lot or are a perfectionist, you are more likely to have trouble with test anxiety. Those who have prepared poorly for a test or have had negative experiences taking tests may also experience test anxiety.When you feel a storm of anxiety coming on, stop what you are doing and make your mind a blank. If possible, actually tell yourself to “STOP”. This will get your mind off the stress. Then think of being at a place of comfort and let your body relax. As you continue the test, find questions you know the answers to and answer them first. This will help restore your confidence.Talk to yourself using positive language. Make it a habit to replace each negative thought with a logical reason. For example：“ I’ve studied hard and I know the material, so I’m ready to do the best I can.”Another thing you can do is to learn to accept mistakes. In fact, they can be valuable learning opportunities.Last but not least, start test preparation early---three to five days ahead of the quiz or test. After all, good study habits and skills ---for example, time management and note-taking – will give you the feeling that your are in control. 【小题1】The first step to overcome nervousness is___ .A．stopping what you are doing, and make your mind a blank.B．getting aware of your problem that you are always nervousC．releasing a kind of body liquid.D．making full preparations【小题2】___ are more likely to feel very nervous in tests.A．People who feel a touch of nervousness in tests.B．People who haven’t prepared very well.C．People who require that everything must be perfect.D．People who have recognized their problems.【小题3】 According to the passage, which statement is TRUE?A．Those who have ever failed in tests must feel anxious.B．A touch of nervousness is a good thing.C．You should answer the questions on the paper one by one.D．Full preparation is not as important as nervousness controlling.
科目：高中英语
来源：辽宁省沈阳市三校学年高一下学期期中联考英语试题
题型：短文改错
短文改错 （共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词作斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
&&&&& 2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
&&&&&&&& I
am so exciting that you will come to China．I will free from December 18 and will have a plenty of time to be
together with you．I'll
meet you at the airport and then you will take Bus No．8 for my home．You worry about the weather
here in your email．In
fact, the weather here is quite different from it in your city．It isn't very cold, but you needn't
bring many clothes with you．During your stay here, I'll take you to some places of interests and
you can taste some local snacks．I am sure we will have greatly fun together.
&&&&&&&& Looking
forward to meeting you soon.
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