Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances> Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

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NIMH Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Overview)

Facts About Attention Deficit Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common of the psychiatric disorders that appear in childhood.  Occurrence is somewhere between 3-5 % of children, with boys outnumbering girls.  The number of children and adolescents affected by ADHD in the United States probably ranges from 1.4 to 2.2 million.  ADHD is generally characterized by inattention, distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity that occur before age seven, continue for at least six months, and are not primarily due to other psychiatric disorders or environmental circumstances, such as reactions to family stresses, etc.

Children with ADHD can’t stay focused on a task, and can’t sit still.  They act without thinking, and rarely finish anything.  As ADHD children grow and develop, parents discover that these children have a very difficult time adapting to even minor changes in routine.

The identification and diagnosis of children with ADHD requires a combination of clinical judgment and objective assessment.  Assessment should include an evaluation of the individual’s medical, psychological, educational and behavioral functioning.  Some health care providers may diagnose ADHD without all this information and tend to either over-diagnose the disorder or under-diagnose it.  Treatment requires an approach aimed at assisting the child medically, psychologically, educationally and behaviorally. This requires a coordinated effort of a team of health care professionals, educators and parents who work together to identify treatment goals, plan and carry out interventions, and evaluate the results of their efforts.

More then half of children with attention deficit disorder also have accompanying disorders, including anxiety, depression, and conduct disorders.  Speech and learning disorders are also common in children with ADHD.  If untreated, the disorder can have long-term effects on a child’s ability to make friends or do well at school or work.  Over time, children with ADHD may develop depression, poor self-esteem, and other emotional problems.