PSYC 3082 FINAL EXAM VERIFIED STUDY GUIDE
*ADHD* - Answers - *Central features*
- Inattention, overactivity, & impulsivity
- Behavioral, cognitive, social, and academic impairments
- Have similar problems as adults
*Prevalence*
- Occurs in 5% of school-aged children
- Symptoms present around 3-4
- Boys outnumber girls 3:1
- Most commonly diagnosed in US
*ADHD Causes* - Answers - *Genetic Contributions*
- Runs in families
- DAT1- dopamine transporter gene
*Neurobiological Contributions*
- Smaller brain volume
- Inactivity of the frontal cortex and basal ganglia
- Abnormal frontal lobe development and functioning
*The role of toxins*
- Food additives play small role
- Maternal smoking increases risk
*Psychosocial Contributions*
- Viewed negatively by others (frequent negative feedback)
- Foster low self-esteem
*Biological ADHD Treatment* - Answers - *Goal*
- To reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity and to improve attention
*Stimulant medications*
- Prescribed for 4 million American children
- Imipramine and clonidine
*Genes*
- May affect response to meds
- Some trial and error is necessary
*Effects of medication*
- Improve compliance, decrease negative behaviors
, - Do not affect learning/academics directly
- Benefits are not lasting following discontinuation
*Behavioral and Combined Treatment of ADHD* - Answers - *Behavioral treatment*
- Reinforcement programs
- Parent training
*Combined treatment*
- Often recommended
- Superior to meds or behavioral treatments
*Learning Disorders* - Answers - - Six million children diagnosed in US
- Highest rate of diagnosis in wealthier regions
- Reading difficulties most common (4-10% of population)
- School experience tends to be generally negative
*Types of Learning Disorders* - Answers - *With impairment in reading*
- Word reading accuracy
- Reading rate or fluency
- Reading comprehension
*With impairment in written expression*
- Spelling accuracy
- Grammar punctuation and accuracy
- Clarity/organization of written expression
*With impairment in mathematics*
- Number sense
- Memorization of arithmetic facts
- Accurate or fluent calculation
- Accurate math reasoning
*Causes of Learning Disorders* - Answers - - Runs in families, but specific difficulties
are not inherited
- Contributions are overall unclear
*Treatment of Learning Disorders* - Answers - - Requires intense educational
interventions
- Remedial classes
- Targeting of problem areas
*Selective Mutism* - Answers - - An anxiety disorder in which a person who is normally
capable of speech does not speak in specific situations or to specific people
*Elective Mutism* - Answers - - Refusal to speak in almost all social situations
*ADHD* - Answers - *Central features*
- Inattention, overactivity, & impulsivity
- Behavioral, cognitive, social, and academic impairments
- Have similar problems as adults
*Prevalence*
- Occurs in 5% of school-aged children
- Symptoms present around 3-4
- Boys outnumber girls 3:1
- Most commonly diagnosed in US
*ADHD Causes* - Answers - *Genetic Contributions*
- Runs in families
- DAT1- dopamine transporter gene
*Neurobiological Contributions*
- Smaller brain volume
- Inactivity of the frontal cortex and basal ganglia
- Abnormal frontal lobe development and functioning
*The role of toxins*
- Food additives play small role
- Maternal smoking increases risk
*Psychosocial Contributions*
- Viewed negatively by others (frequent negative feedback)
- Foster low self-esteem
*Biological ADHD Treatment* - Answers - *Goal*
- To reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity and to improve attention
*Stimulant medications*
- Prescribed for 4 million American children
- Imipramine and clonidine
*Genes*
- May affect response to meds
- Some trial and error is necessary
*Effects of medication*
- Improve compliance, decrease negative behaviors
, - Do not affect learning/academics directly
- Benefits are not lasting following discontinuation
*Behavioral and Combined Treatment of ADHD* - Answers - *Behavioral treatment*
- Reinforcement programs
- Parent training
*Combined treatment*
- Often recommended
- Superior to meds or behavioral treatments
*Learning Disorders* - Answers - - Six million children diagnosed in US
- Highest rate of diagnosis in wealthier regions
- Reading difficulties most common (4-10% of population)
- School experience tends to be generally negative
*Types of Learning Disorders* - Answers - *With impairment in reading*
- Word reading accuracy
- Reading rate or fluency
- Reading comprehension
*With impairment in written expression*
- Spelling accuracy
- Grammar punctuation and accuracy
- Clarity/organization of written expression
*With impairment in mathematics*
- Number sense
- Memorization of arithmetic facts
- Accurate or fluent calculation
- Accurate math reasoning
*Causes of Learning Disorders* - Answers - - Runs in families, but specific difficulties
are not inherited
- Contributions are overall unclear
*Treatment of Learning Disorders* - Answers - - Requires intense educational
interventions
- Remedial classes
- Targeting of problem areas
*Selective Mutism* - Answers - - An anxiety disorder in which a person who is normally
capable of speech does not speak in specific situations or to specific people
*Elective Mutism* - Answers - - Refusal to speak in almost all social situations
