The topic of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or
ADHD has gotten much press over the years, some casting this disorder in a very
negative light. For example there are some people who believe that ADHD is not real, and is simply a fabrication
designed to increase pharmaceutical sales. Others, including many professionals, believe
that ADHD is overly diagnosed resulting in children being given medication that
they do not need. Yet if you ask any parent
who has a child with ADHD, the disorder is very real indeed. It is also very
real to the children, teens, and adults who struggle on a daily basis with symptoms
of this disorder.
Despite all the controversy, ADHD remains one of the most
commonly diagnosed behavior disorders among children. The National Alliance on Mental Illness
(NAMI) estimates that 3-5 percent of school age children are affected by ADHD. For all the naysayers there has been research
to validate the existence of this disorder, especially in children. One study shows that up to 90% of children with a diagnosis of ADHD share it with their twin. Studies such as this suggest a strong
hereditary component to ADHD.
Researchers have also used advanced imaging techniques to study the
brains of children diagnosed with ADHD. The results are astounding. The brain regions critical for cognitive and
motor control was found to be smaller in size in children with ADHD than their
typically developing peers. So for all
the skeptics who believe that ADHD is just a code word for a misbehaving child,
there is now proof to demonstrate that ADHD may be an inherited brain disorder.
My take on ADHD:
I am not a diagnostician nor am I a researcher. But in my clinical experience as a special
education instructor and behavioral specialist, I have come to my own home
grown conclusions about this disorder.
It is my belief that for the most part, ADHD is seldom a stand-alone
condition. There are usually co-morbid
disorders which accompany ADHD and the list is long. They include diagnoses such as depression,
anxiety, Obsessive compulsive disorder, tic disorders such as Tourette’s,
Bipolar Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Substance Abuse Disorder and many others
not listed here. And despite the fact
that one cannot presently be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and
ADHD, I believe it is entirely possible to have both conditions. The reason why ADHD may be such a
controversial and misunderstood diagnosis may be due to these differences in
co-morbid conditions. ADHD, in a lot of
cases, may simply be a set of symptoms which are part of a broader
diagnosis. Some further speculate that
there may also be multiple sub-types of ADHD.
The bottom line is that there is little agreement by
what we mean when we say that someone has ADHD making diagnosis and treatment particularly difficult.
Clinical Definition
of ADHD
For now there is no readily available medical test to
determine if a child or adult has ADHD.
Professionals must rely on observable behaviors in order to make a
diagnosis. You may find the full DSM-IV
list of ADHD symptoms on the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention website. Variations of the disorder exist with some
symptoms being more prominent than others.
Yet the three main symptoms of ADHD include: Inattention, hyperactivity, and
impulsivity.
Resources for Individuals
with ADHD and their Families
If you suspect that you or a loved one may have ADHD there
is support and there is treatment. You
are not alone in this. Here are some
resources to help. (Please note that we
are not responsible for the functionality or usefulness of any information from
external links. You must decide for
yourself which resources are of value to you and your unique situation.)
- CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
In addition you may find more information about ADHD from
reading my many articles on this topic on Health Central.
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