Attention Deficit Disorder
Attention deficit disorder (ADHD) has become much better known to the public in the last five or so years. It refers to children who have difficulty in concentrating and behave in an overactive and impulsive way. Studies have shown that up to one in one hundred children of primary school age have ADHD.
ADHD is not linked to a lack of intelligence, but children who have ADHD can have difficulties at school, with their friends and at home. Many more boys than girls have ADHD (about 90% of ADHD cases are boys) and it is thought to have a genetic component. This is why parents are sometimes asked about their own childhood and personality.
Many children are overactive at times and when parents are exhausted or stressed, even normal behaviour in children can feel tiring and relentless. However, ADHD is a diagnosis that applies to children who have persistent over-activity and difficulty in concentration.
When professionals assess for ADHD they do a thorough health and social history of the child looking at their development since being born, question the parents about their handling of the child's behaviour, observe the particular child (in the clinic, home and school), check with schools to get an overall picture of the child in terms of IQ, academic achievement and relationships with staff and children. They aim to get a picture of the child in different environments. It is very important to get a proper assessment before assuming a child has ADHD.
Diagnosis is not usually made in children under the age of five. Below this age, it is difficult to properly assess children's behaviour. The best person to approach if you have a worry is your doctor. They will be able to refer you to a specialist clinic or to a child and adolescent mental health team. In some areas you may find specialist health teams who assess and diagnose for ADHD.
Some health professionals have doubts about ADHD. They feel that true instances of ADHD are rarer than many other professionals claim. They worry that children are being prescribed medication and that many of the difficulties parents complain about in their children reflect inadequate parenting skills, psychological difficulties in the child, or poor socio-economic conditions.
Another factor is that the setting can often make a big difference to the way a child behaves. Children with ADHD may have spells of more controlled behaviour. This is why a thorough assessment looks at the child's behaviour over time and in different settings. You may find that some doctors in your area will not prescribe medication for your child even when another doctor or psychiatrist has made a diagnosis. If this is the case, you may have to go to another doctor or have the person who made the diagnosis prescribe medication.
What should you look for?
Distractibility and a general inability to finish tasks off - such as completing a jigsaw or not being able to watch a TV programme all the way through. Children might be attracted to another task before finishing the first. They may appear to be daydreaming a lot. The can make mistakes in their school work that appear careless and due to laziness.
Restless and overactive behaviour. Children can be very fidgety and not able to stay in one place or complete an activity. They can find it very difficult waiting their turn in a queue. They find keeping to rules difficult and get on edge if they are made to wait for anything. They can talk too much in class and appear disruptive and difficult to control. They find waiting to answer questions difficult - often blurting out answers or interrupting people.
Difficulty in concentrating for a normal amount of time. They don't appear to think things through like other children at a similar age. They often under-perform at school because of this
Written by Medpages Editorial Team
Last Editorial Review: 21/1/2010
