The diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) : a survey of how professionals in Newfoundland make their diagnosis

The purpose of the study was to examine how children in Newfoundland are diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Specifically, it will address professional perceptions of the definition, characteristics, causes, and the areas and methods of assessing AD/HD. Two hundred and nine ques...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Parsons, Paul Leslie
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1996
Subjects:
Online Access:https://research.library.mun.ca/5124/
https://research.library.mun.ca/5124/1/Parsons_PaulLeslie.pdf
https://research.library.mun.ca/5124/3/Parsons_PaulLeslie.pdf
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Summary:The purpose of the study was to examine how children in Newfoundland are diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Specifically, it will address professional perceptions of the definition, characteristics, causes, and the areas and methods of assessing AD/HD. Two hundred and nine questionnaires consisting of open and closed ended questions were sent out and 110 participants responded. Seventy surveys were used in the data analysis. Ten per cent of the neurologists, 29% of the paediatricians, 21% of the psychiatrists, and 38% of the psychologists responded. Results indicated that there is a general agreement among the different professionals regarding their perceptions of AD/HD. However, there are some discrepancies among the professionals' perceptions of assessing AD/HD and the reported practices. Although the return rate is reasonable, the sample may be biased by the higher number of psychologists that responded. The implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.