ADHD/ADD
Overview:
Quick Reference
Reviewed by Joseph Maloney, M.D.Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), also referred to in the past as attention deficit disorder (ADD) or hyperactivity, is a condition in which people consistently display characteristic behaviors of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity over a period of time. Research indicates that anywhere from four to 12 percent of school age children may have ADHD with the majority demonstrating characteristic behavior before age seven. Males are affected three to four times more than females.
Detailed Information
People who are inattentive have a hard time keeping their mind on any one thing and may get bored with a task after only a few minutes. They may give effortless, automatic attention to activities and things they enjoy, but focusing deliberate attention to organizing and completing a task or learning something new is difficult.
People who are hyperactive always seem to be in motion. They can't sit still. Hyperactive children squirm in their seat or roam around the room. They also might wiggle their feet, touch everything, or noisily tap their pencil. Hyperactive teens and adults may feel intensely restless. They may be fidgety, or they may try to do several things at once, bouncing around from one activity to the next.
People who are overly impulsive seem unable to curb their immediate reactions or think before they act. As a result they may blurt out inappropriate comments. They may run into the street without looking. Their impulsivity may make it hard for them to wait for things they want or to take their turn in games. They may grab a toy from another child or hit when they're upset.
Not everyone who is overly hyperactive, inattentive, or impulsive has an attention disorder. To assess whether a person has ADHD, specialists consider the excessiveness and pervasiveness of the behaviors, the length of time the person displays the behaviors, and the continuity of the behaviors. The person's pattern of behavior can be evaluated with a set of criteria based upon the specific characteristics of the disorder.
Many factors can produce behaviors that resemble those of ADHD. Anything from chronic fear to mild seizures can make a child seem overactive, quarrelsome, impulsive, or inattentive. It is also important to realize that during certain stages of development, the majority of children at that age tend to be inattentive, hyperactive, or impulsive--but do not have ADHD.
ADHD is a serious diagnosis that may require long-term treatment with counseling and medication. Thus, it is important that a doctor first find and treat any other causes for these behaviors.
One of the difficulties in diagnosing ADHD is that it is often accompanied by other problems. For example, many children with ADHD also have a specific learning disability (LD), which means they have trouble mastering language or certain academic skills, typically reading and math. ADHD is not in itself a specific learning disability (LD), but because it can interfere with concentration and attention, ADHD can make it doubly hard for a child with LD to do well in school.
Nearly half of all children with ADHD tend to have another condition, called oppositional defiant disorder. They may be stubborn, have outbursts of temper, or act belligerent or defiant. Sometimes this progresses to more serious conduct disorders. It is important that children with these conditions receive help before their behaviors lead to more serious problems.
Because emotional disorders and attention disorders so often go hand in hand, every child who has ADHD should be checked for accompanying anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression can be treated, and helping children handle such strong, painful feelings will help them cope with and overcome the effects of ADHD.
Of course, not all children with ADHD have an additional disorder. Nor do all people with learning disabilities, Tourette's syndrome, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, anxiety, or depression have ADHD. When disorders do occur together, the combination of problems can seriously complicate a person's life. For this reason, it is important to watch for other disorders in children who have ADHD.
Treatment/Prevention
Treatment for ADHD includes a combination of behavioral therapy and medication. Parental therapy for young children helps parents learn coping skills and techniques. In addition, individual instruction allows children to focus more productively, and achieve more success at school. Studies have shown medications to be important in treating ADHD. Epidemiological studies suggest that ADHD is underdiagnosed and undertreated.
Last updated: 26-Mar-07
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