ADHD

Many times, people have asked me if ADHD is a real disorder, or if it simply a result of some other condition, such a poor parenting. Such a question usually is asked because the person is not familiar with the disorder or doesn’t know anyone who has truly been affected by it. Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is probably the most common reason that parents take their kiddo to a mental health professional and is also one of the most common behavior disorders in school-aged children. ADHD is a real and specific disorder characterized by symptoms of restlessness, over-activity, trouble staying seated in class, blurting out answers, disorganization, losing needed items (such as pencils/papers), forgetfulness, inattention, and distractibility . Sometimes, people will ask about ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder, which is a specific subtype of ADHD (the Inattentive type; there are actually 3 subtypes).

It is estimated that ADHD affects between 4-7% of children, and is much more common in boys than girls. ADHD usually extends from childhood into adolescence, and often from childhood into adulthood. Complicating the clinical picture, there are a number of other disorders that often occur in association with ADHD. These include Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), learning disorders, depression, anxiety, etc. Further, many of the symptoms of ADHD, mimic or overlap the symptoms of other disorders; for example, difficulty concentrating is a common symptom of depression. Fortunately, a number of assessment tools and measures are available to qualified professionals to assist in diagnosis and subsequent treatment, as well as identifying any other disorders.

Once a child has been properly diagnosed by a qualified professional, an appropriate treatment plan can be proposed and implemented. The best approach is usually a combination of medication, behavior management, family treatment, and educational interventions. Failure to utilize treatment may lead to emotional distress for the child, peer problems, behavior problems at home, school, and the community, school failure, and family distress.

Sometimes people are concerned that they are simply “medicating the real problem” and are scared to use these medications. For most people, these are very safe medications that have been studied extensively on children and help significantly. Although I do not prescribe medications in my practice, I often use the comparison of a child needing glasses. If a doctor told you your child needed glasses, you would probably do a number of additional things (help the child listen better, sit closer to the front of the class, learn to ask questions when necessary, etc). Regardless, it is likely that glasses will help the child significantly. The same goes for ADHD: there are a number of behavioral interventions that can be very helpful, but a medication can help too. For more information about ADHD feel free to send an email or leave a comment!