News: General Press
The Universidad de las Islas Baleares is starting up a new service to detect Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in students
Source: DIARIO DE IBIZA / Date: November 19, 2009 / Category: General Press
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects between 3% and 5% of students, especially males. Usually, it is diagnosed from age 6 up, but according to the psychologist Irene Ayala “the sooner the diagnosis, the better the prognosis”.
The Universidad de las Islas Baleares (UIB) has set up a service in order to detect this disorder in students. To that end, UIB has signed a cooperation agreement with the Integrated Center of Studies Areté (Centro de Estudios Integrados Areté) and the ADHD Parent Association (Asociación de Padres TDAH).
Ayala will manage this service which depends on the Unit of Infant Psychological Advice (UAPI) of the Laboratory of Behavior and Systems of the UIB, located at the Integrated Center of Studies Areté.
During the presentation of this new unit, Ayala expressed that this behavior disorder this type of behavior problem is one of the most troublesome, and highlighted that there is an excess of ADHD diagnosis that not always adjust to reality. This diagnose tends to be used as a rag bag. Any learning or behavior problem is considered ADHD.
In fact, the new unit applies a specific protocol, which is the same that uses the UAPI, which intends to control the over-diagnoses.
This new service is centered exclusively in the detection of cases of ADHD, though; according to Ayala “all types of psycho-pedagogical problems in the development of learning” will be assisted. The UAPI uses information on each case to enhance the protocol and “future investigations”.