DEFINITION

 -“CHRONIC LIMITED ALERTNESS”

-AFFECTS IMPULSE CONTROL &/OR VIGILANCE

- MAY INVOLVE DISTRACTIBILITY

- MAY INVOLVE IMPULSIVITY

-WITH  OR WITHOUT HYPERACTIVITY:

High Activity Level

         +

Random or Purposeless Behavior

HOW IT LOOKS

 - POOR FOCUS ON SPECIFIC TASKS

- DISTRACTIBILITY

- IMPULSIVITY: Fast, Bad Decisions

- RANDOM OR UNPLANNED MOTOR RESPONSES: Overflow movements, wiggling, jerking, tics, off-task glances

- BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS: Immaturity, Lability, Impulsivity, Inattention, Disruptiveness

- POOR SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT / PUNCTUALITY  / TRUANCY

FILE HINTS

 - SPECIAL ED CLASS OR LABEL:

ADD, ADHD, SBD, OHI, SED

- HAS AN IEP OR

 “504 PLAN”

- FAMILY HISTORY

 - OTHERS AFFECTED

- WITH OR WITHOUT ACCOMPANYING LEARNING DISABILITIES

- “CONFIDENTIAL” GUIDANCE OR PSYCHIATRIC FILE

- MEDICAL PRESCRIPTION FOR ATTENTION BOOSTING MEDICATION: Ritalin, Cylert, Dexedrine

HOW DIAGNOSED

 - HISTORICAL INTERVIEW/FILE SEARCH: Evidence of ADD/ADHD in Childhood

- INFORMATION PROCESSING BATTERY: Attending Behavior across Auditory and Visual Modalities

- VARIABLES OF ATTENTION IN HIGH AND LOW-STIMULUS CONDITIONS:

   A) OMISSIONS

(Simple Inattention) 

B) COMMISSIONS (Impulsivity) 

C) REACTION TIME (Speed) 

D) VARIABILITY (Consistency over Time)