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AJ Goldberg

CCP English

Research Essay

21 March 2021

What are the Effects of ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a mental health condition that

causes a high level of hyperactivity and impulsive behaviors. It is a disorder that affects more

than 6.1 million children and is so widespread in today's world that people barely notice it.

Despite the fact that this well-studied disorder is well-understood, it continues to affect a large

portion of the world's population. Adhd is more likely to affect boys than girls, and its severity

can range from having little or no effect to having a negative impact that can lead to educational

issues and even more problems in the future. Many studies have been conducted to better

understand adhd and its causes, effects, and treatments that can better someone's experience in

having this disorder.

When considering a research topic, one of the first things that came to mind was attention

deficit hyperactivity disorder. I've been dealing with this disorder for as long as I can recall. At a

young age, I was diagnosed with one of the more severe cases of attention deficit hyperactivity

disorder, which had a significant negative impact on my life. Teachers always kept a close eye

on me and were always reminding me to focus. I was always the kid on field trips who teachers

or volunteer parents were warned about because I couldn't sit still and was always talking or

roaming around. One thing that adhd had an impact on was my sleep, which is something that

every child requires. I was told that this disorder was the cause of my inability to sleep after
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seeing my doctor and being diagnosed with it. I was never tired, but the lack of sleep was

causing me to have multiple severe headaches per week. My attention deficit hyperactivity

disorder was diagnosed when I was in third grade, and I was prescribed medication. The drugs

helped me concentrate better, but it also left me with little to no energy and made me extremely

tired. I had no idea that the drug had caused me to lose my appetite. I was a small child who

should have consumed more calories than the average child. Fast forward to my eighth grade

year, when I decided that I could manage my emotions without my medication and stopped

taking it. After that, I regained my appetite and grew six inches in a single summer.

What is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exactly? ADHD is a "brain

disease that affects how you pay attention, sit still, and regulate your actions," according to the

CDC, by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD, according to a source she reviewed. All of these things are

necessary for students to succeed in school. “It happens in children and teens and can continue

into adulthood. ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder in children. Boys are

more likely to have it than girls.” clearly illustrating how the disorder can have a significant

impact on a child's or teen's education, as well as young adults. TeensHealth is another resource

for understanding the disorder. TeensHealth is a credible site that states “Attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an acronym for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. That's

the medical term for concentration and self-control problems that cause people to fidget and

jump around a lot. People with ADHD have a difficult time keeping concentrated. They may be a

little more jittery than some. Since ADHD makes it more difficult to regulate one's actions,

children and teenagers are more likely to get into trouble. ADHD may have an impact on how

they interact with others.” In further explanation, the disorder can seriously jeopardize a person's

future when it comes to schooling and staying out of trouble. Education is so important in
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someone's life. Education instills in us the importance of hard work while also assisting us in our

development and growth. As a result, we will help to shape a healthier world by learning and

upholding rights, laws, and regulations. There are many studies that have produced valuable

information about adhd. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states facts for the exact

purpose of informing the readers about some of the statistics behind the disorder. Some of these

facts include “The estimated number of children ever diagnosed with ADHD, according to a

national 2016 parent survey, 1 is 6.1 million (9.4%).” and “Boys are more likely to be diagnosed

with ADHD than girls (12.9% compared to 5.6%)” adhd is very real and has been studied by

scientists. The fact that adhd puts education in danger is serious.

(The graph provided shows statistics based on parents with children in school with adhd,

compared to parents whose children do not have adhd.)

The academic and educational characteristics of children with attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder can be seen in the experiments that Loe and Feldman observed. Children

with adhd have substantially lower academic achievement, academic success, and have

educational issues, according to the article published by both authors. Adolescents with adhd are
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more likely to be suspended, expelled, or forced to repeat a grade. They are also four or five

times more likely than children without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to need special

education services. Furthermore, children with this condition need more ancillary services, such

as tutoring, remedial pullout courses, and special arrangements. A lot of these accommodations

can be determined if they are needed by the classroom environments.

There are many changes in the classroom that need to happen to help the children that

have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. One way that classrooms could change to help the

students with adhd is smaller class sizes. Research shows that the students with adhd are more

effective in class sizes that have ten to fifteen students rather than classrooms with twenty five to

thirty five students. Classrooms are often overly loud, which can be very disruptive for students.

Reducing the number of distractions in the classroom can be a useful tool for adhd students.

Silent test taking areas are one way to achieve some peace and quiet. Most children that have

adhd do not want to do class work and since adhd also affects the behavior of that person the

regular discipline is not working. Children do not do work if they are sent home or suspended for

their bad behavior. The discipline system needs to find a way to discipline children without

compromising their learning. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a disorder that gives the

people suffering from it an excess amount of energy, a change that would be beneficial is having

schools increase physical activity. If the students that have attention deficit hyperactivity

disorder can use some of their energy at an extra long recess and can spend some of that excess

energy then they will be able to focus more in the classroom.

The diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is relatively simple. People with

mild adhd will find it difficult to pay attention. People with severe cases will be unable to pay

attention and will be unable to stop moving around. Knowing what the symptoms of adhd will
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assist with further research and study. According Healthline, a website that provides trustworthy

and useful information:

The three main characteristics of a person with Attention deficit hyperactivity

disorder are: inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity. ADHD can also cause a

person to experience very high energy levels. There’s no definitive test to

diagnose ADHD. However, healthcare providers can evaluate children or adults

for the condition based on symptoms. Symptoms associated with ADHD include:

being highly impatient, having difficulty performing tasks quietly, having

difficulty following instructions, losing things frequently, often seeming as if they

aren’t paying attention, talking seemingly nonstop. ADHD can be difficult for a

person to live with. Some people think those with ADHD are “out of control” or

difficult because they have trouble following directions (HealthLine).

This information is beneficial to people who want to learn more about adhd. Self-diagnosis is

possible in the majority of cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The most serious

cases can be alleged with the assistance of medicines prescribed by physicians.

The common symptoms of adhd are not the only side effects that a person may

experience while suffering from this condition. People with attention deficit hyperactivity

disorder are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety. Anxiety affects all children at

some point in their lives, but children with adhd are more likely than others to experience it.

Adhd and anxiety can go hand and hand “Anxiety disorders are more common in ADHD

children than in non-ADHD children. Anxiety disorders include the following: Separation

anxiety – being terrified as they are separated from their families, as well as social anxiety –

being very afraid of school and other places where they may meet people, general anxiety –
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being very worried about the future and about bad things happening to them” (CDC). Anxiety is

a serious condition that can have serious mental consequences if left untreated, particularly in

children. Depression is another severe mental condition that adhd can affect. The CDC states that

children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder “are more likely than children without

ADHD to develop childhood depression. Children may be more likely to feel hopeless and sad

when they can’t control their ADHD symptoms and the symptoms interfere with doing well at

school or getting along with family and friends. Children with ADHD often have a hard time

focusing on things that are not very interesting to them. Depression can make it hard to focus on

things that are normally fun. Changes in eating and sleeping habits can also be a sign of

depression. For children with ADHD who take medication, changes in eating and sleeping can

also be side-effects from the medication rather than signs of Adhd is already a difficult mental

health condition to deal with, and a child who has both adhd and depression or anxiety, or both,

may have a difficult time coping with life, which may, unfortunately, lead to suicide.

Medications can be extremely helpful in alleviating adhd symptoms. Adderall

(amphetamine), ritalin (methylphenidate), concerta (methylphenidate), focalin

(dexmethylphenidate), daytrana (methylphenidate patch), metadate or methylin

(methylphenidate), dexedrine or dextrostat (dextroamphetamine), and vyvanse are some of these

medicines (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate). The medications that are listed can be labeled under

three different types of medications. These medications can be labeled as stimulants, non-

stimulants, and antidepressants. Hansa D. Bhargava, MD describes each of these as:

Stimulants. This group of drugs has treated ADHD for several decades. These

medicines might help you focus your thoughts and ignore distractions. Stimulant

meds work for 70% to 80% of people. They’re used to treat moderate and severe
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ADHD. They may be helpful for children, teens, and adults who have a hard time

at school, work, or home. Some stimulants are approved for use in children over

age 3. Others are approved for children over age 6. Non-stimulants. In cases

where stimulants don’t work or cause unpleasant side effects, non-stimulants

might help. These medications can improve symptoms like concentration and

impulse control. Antidepressants. People with ADHD often have depression,

anxiety, and bipolar disorder too. They may take an antidepressant to control

mental health issues or other conditions along with a stimulant for ADHD.

(WebMD)

Unfortunately, the majority of adhd drugs have serious side effects. Loss of appetite, weight loss,

sleep problems, crankiness, and tics are all side effects of short-acting stimulants. Some of the

drugs used in combating the effects of adhd can be victims to abuse and can cause the users to be

involved in a life of drug abuse.

Although the majority of the results of adhd are detrimental, there are some advantages of

having this condition. The statistics behind the benefits of adhd are more just based on the stories

and preferences of the people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder rather than actual facts.

In an experiment researched by HealthLine describes a research experiment as:

A 2006 study published in the journal Child Neuropsychology found that ADHD

sample groups displayed greater levels of creativity in performing certain tasks

than their peers without a diagnosis of ADHD. Researchers asked participants to

draw animals that lived on a planet that was different from Earth and to create an

idea for a new toy. A 2017 study explored creativity in adults with ADHD. Study

participants were asked to come up with new ways to use a belt, book, tin can,
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and towel. In general, people with ADHD and people without ADHD came up

with the same number of ideas. The researchers also found that there were no

differences in creativity between people who took medications for their ADHD

and those who didn’t. However, when study participants were told that they had

the opportunity to win a bonus, people with ADHD generated more ideas than

people without ADHD (Healthline).

Living with ADHD can provide a unique viewpoint on life and inspire people to treat activities

and circumstances with care. As a consequence, some people with ADHD can think creatively.

Original, imaginative, and innovative are several other terms that could be used to describe them.

People with adhd can find themselves being hyper focused. Although being hyper focused is not

an official symptom of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, doctors have found correlation in

the two. Hyper focus refers to a laser-like focus on a single subject or mission. The world around

a highly focused person seems to slow down, and all they can think about is what they're doing.

This is beneficial when doing homework or working in a professional environment. Another

advantage of this condition is that it helps you to be more energetic. People that said they had

adhd have more energy than the normal person. This energy can be channelled into work or

sports or any other activity that the person is participating in. One last beneficial effect of adhd is

being more spontaneous. People that have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can find

themselves turning their “impulsivity into spontaneity” (Healthline). This can mean that people

with adhd want to be their own person or break from the status quo. They can be the life of the

party and not care what others think and they can be more open to try new things.

According to Jason Goldberg, an adult with adhd, it has affected his life greatly. Most

children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can grow out of it as they get
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older some adults still feel the effect of adhd as they get older. Due to covid Goldberg had to

stay home and work. Goldberg said that “While I like working from home, I get a lot more work

done at the office. When I work from home I get less done because of all the distractions at

home.” Adhd also affects Goldberg with his sleep. “I wake up every couple of hours and it is

hard for me to fall back asleep. The weird thing is that I am not any less tired during the day

compared to when I get a full night's sleep” (Goldberg) furthermore the fact that adhd leaves

some of the people affected by it with restless nights. Another effect that is present is that it is

hard for Goldberg to complete some projects. When asked how attention deficit hyperactivity

disorder affects work not related to his profession he said “I have trouble getting some home

projects done. I start them and work on them for a couple days but if they do not need my

immediate attention I then lose interest and move on to another and the cycle of unfinished work

begins” (Goldberg) while some people that have adhd have hyper focus, is the project at hand

done not peek interest it can be pushed aside and can be hard for that particular person to get

back around to it. Being an adult with adhd can be very difficult but Goldberg has learned to deal

with it and continues to strive in life despite the setbacks that this disorder can bring.

Adhd does not have to be a disadvantage in someone's life. Instead, ADHD may and has

helped many artists, athletes, and businesspeople succeed. Some famous people that have adhd

include: Simone Biles an american olympic medal winner, Michael Phelps another american

olympic gold medal winner, Justin Timberlake who is a famous singer and songwriter, and Terry

Bradshaw Super Bowl champ and TV sports commentator. Many individuals with ADHD have

achieved the top of their respective fields. This is a treatable disorder with a range of medications

available to help people improve their attention and behavior. Medication and counseling are

examples of these.
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To summarize, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one disorder that affects millions

of people all around the world from children to adults. The fact that a person has adhd, with hard

work does not greatly affect their success in life. The research behind this disorder is endless and

can be seen from many different angles. Adhd and be both negative and positive. For people that

the condition affects there are many ways that they can either medicate or work out the

problems. The research provides information and helps the reader really understand this

condition and bring a better understanding to the problems and good that can come from living

with adhd.
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Works Cited

“Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Diagnosis and Management of ADHD in

Children, Young People and Adults.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S.

National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22420012/.

“ADD/ADHD | What Is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?” YouTube, YouTube, 4

May 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouZrZa5pLXk.

“ADHD (for Teens) - Nemours KidsHealth.” Edited by D'Arcy Lyness, KidsHealth, The

Nemours Foundation, Nov. 2017, kidshealth.org/en/teens/adhd.html#:~:text=ADHD%20is

%20a%20medical%20condition,may%20get%20into%20trouble%20more.

Bhargava, Hansa. (2021, March 9). Adhd medications: Compare adhd drug treatments &

side effects. Retrieved March 25, 2021, from https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/adhd-

medication-chart

“Data and Statistics About ADHD.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Nov. 2020, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html.

Editors, Additude. “ADHD Research Roundup: New Studies, Findings & Insights.”

Additude, 22 Dec. 2020. 8il9

Felt, Barbara T., et al. “Diagnosis and Management of ADHD in Children.” American

Family Physician, 1 Oct. 2014, www.aafp.org/afp/2014/1001/p456.html.

Gomez-Sanchez, Clara I., et al. “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Genetic

Association Study in a Cohort of Spanish Children.” Behavioral and Brain Functions, vol.

12, no. 1, 2015, doi:10.1186/s12993-015-0084-6.

Goldberg, Jason. Personal interview. 25 March. 2021

“How ADHD Affects Adults | ADHD - Not Just for Kids (Full Documentary) | Only

Human.” YouTube, YouTube, 19 Aug. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyUVc0Iteb0.

“How ADHD Affects the Many Areas of Your Life.” WebMD, WebMD, 26 May 2020,

www.webmd.com/add-adhd/ss/slideshow-adhd-life.

Impact of adhd. (2021, March 15). Retrieved March 31, 2021, from https://adhd-

institute.com/burden-of-adhd/impact-of-adhd/

Loe, M. Irene MD and Feldman, M. Heidi MD, PHD. “Academic and Educational

Outcomes of Children with ADHD.” Academic.Oup, vol. 32, no. 6 January 2007, pp 643-

654. https://academic.oup.com/jpepsy/article-abstract/32/6/643/1021192

Other concerns and conditions with adhd. (2020, September 04). Retrieved March 25,

2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/conditions.html#

Thomas, Willie E. “The Benefits of ADHD.” Healthline, Jan. 2021,

www.healthline.com/health/adhd/benefits-of-adhd.
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