A.D.D. - Missing Out on Learning

Study requires a student's undivided attention. It is impossible to acquire a complex skill or absorb information about a subject in class unless one learns to concentrate without undue stress for long periods of time. Students with Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.) are particularly deficient in this respect for reasons which are now known to be microbiological and not behavioral, as was once believed. Of course, being unable to concentrate, and incapable of pleasing the teacher and oneself in the process, quickly leads to despondence and low self-esteem. This will naturally induce behavioral problems. It is estimated that 3 - 5 % of all children suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder. There are three main types of Attention Deficit Disorder: A.D.D. without Hyperactivity, A.D.D. with Hyperactivity (A.D.H.D.), and Undifferentiated A.D.D.

The characteristics of a person with A.D.D. are as follows:

• has difficulty paying attention

• does not appear to listen

• is unable to carry out given instructions

• avoids or dislikes tasks which require sustained mental effort

• has difficulty with organization

• is easily distracted

• often loses things

• is forgetful in daily activities

Children with A.D.H.D. also exhibit excessive and inappropriate physical activity, such as constant fidgeting and running about the room. This boisterousness often interferes with the educational development of others. Undifferentiated A.D.D. sufferers exhibit some, but not all, of the symptoms of each category.

It is important to base remedial action on an accurate diagnosis. Since A.D.D. is a physiological disorder caused by some structural or chemically-based neurotransmitter problem in the nervous system, it responds especially well to certain psycho stimulant drugs, such as Ritalin. In use since 1953, the drug enhances the ability to structure and complete a thought without being overwhelmed by non-related and distracting thought processes.

Psychostimulants are the most widely used medications for persons with A.D.D. and A.D.H.D. Recent findings have validated the use of stimulant medications, which work in about 70 - 80% of A.D.H.D. children and adults (Wilens and Biederman, 1997). In fact, up to 90% of destructibility in A.D.D. sufferers can be removed by medication. The specific dose of medicine varies for each child, but such drugs are not without side effects, which include reduction in appetite, loss of weight, and problems with falling asleep.

Not all students who are inattentive in class have Attention Deficit Disorder. Many are simply unwilling to commit themselves to the task at hand. Others might have a specific learning disability (S.L.D.). However, those with A.D.D. have difficulty performing in school not usually because they have trouble learning 1 , but because of poor organization, inattention, compulsion and impulsiveness. This is brought about by an incompletely understood phenomenon, in which the individual is, perhaps, best described as 'tuning out' for short to long periods of time. The effect is analogous to the switching of channels on a television set. The difference is that an A.D.D. the sufferer is not 'in charge of the remote control'. The child with A.D.D. is unavailable to learn - something else has involuntarily captured his or her whole attention.

It is commonly thought that A.D.D. only affects children, and that they grow out of the condition once they reach adolescence. It is now known that this is often not the case. Left undiagnosed or untreated, children with all forms of A.D.D. risk a lifetime of failure to relate effectively to others at home, school, college and at work. This brings significant emotional disturbances into play, and is very likely to negatively affect self-esteem. Fortunately, early identification of the problem, together with appropriate treatment, makes it possible for many victims to overcome the substantial obstacles that A.D.D. places in the way of successful learning.

Questions 1-8

The following is a summary of Reading Passage.

Complete each gap in the text by choosing 1-8 on your Answer Sheet.

switch                                successfully                                completion                          children

side effects                       remedial action                           hyperactivity                        organised  

Symptoms include inattentiveness and having difficulty getting (1)................ , as well as easily becoming distracted. Sometimes, A.D.D. is accompanied by (2)................ In these cases, the sufferer exhibits excessive physical activity. Psychostimulant drugs can be given to A.D.D. sufferers to assist them with the (3)................ of desired thought processes, although they might cause (4)................ Current theory states that medication is the only (5)................ that has a sound scientific basis. This action should only be taken after an accurate diagnosis is made. Children with A.D.D. do not necessarily have trouble learning; their problem is that they involuntarily (6)................ their attention elsewhere. It is not only (7)................ that are affected by this condition. Failure to treat A.D.D. can lead to lifelong emotional and behavioral problems. Early diagnosis and treatment, however, are the key to (8)................ overcoming learning difficulties associated with A.D.D.

ANSWER KEY:

1. organised  

2. hyperactivity   

3. completion   

4. side effects   

5. remedial action    

6. switch   

7. children  

8. successfully

TỪ VỰNG TRONG BÀI

• (One's) undivided attention: sự chú ý không bị phân tán của ai đó

• Despondence /di-ˈspän-dən(t)s/ (n): chán nản (the quality of being unhappy, with no hope or enthusiasm)

• Induce /ɪnˈduːs/ (v): gây ra (to cause something to happen)

• Fidget /ˈfɪdʒ.ət/ (v): bồn chồn (to make continuous, small movements that annoy other people)

• Boisterous /ˈbɔɪ·stər·əs, -strəs/ (adj): huyên náo, ồn ào (noisy and not controlled) 

• Stimulant medication: thuốc kích thích

• Dose of medicine: liều lượng thuốc

• Analogous /əˈnæl.ə.ɡəs/ (adj): tương tự (having similar features to another thing and therefore able to be compared with it)