Attention Deficit Hyperactivi... Health Article

Demographics

ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder of childhood, affecting an estimated 3–5% of children, approximately two million in the United States. Males are considered up to eight times more likely to have ADHD than females. While it has been proven that males are more likely than females to develop ADHD, the difference in the numbers of male versus female may be due, in part, to males having a higher rate of hyperactivity symptoms that are easier to detect and diagnose. ADHD often occurs in conjunction with other problems such as depressive and anxiety disorders, conduct disorders, drug abuse, and antisocial behaviors. Children with untreated ADHD have increased rates of injury and co-morbid psychiatric disorders. Approximately 70–80% of children with ADHD exhibit significant symptoms into adolescence and adulthood. It is estimated that 2–6% of adolescents and 2–4% of adults have ADHD. Adults who had untreated ADHD in childhood have more severe symptoms and adverse risk factors later in life. Adverse factors both influence the expression of ADHD and increase the risk for associated disorders that reduce overall adjustment throughout life. ADHD is considered a lifelong disorder that requires appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of ADHD often become apparent by the age of seven, but many adults remain undiagnosed. The three subtypes of ADHD recognized by the scientific community are a predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type that does not display significant symptoms of inattention, a predominantly inattentive type that does not display significant symptoms of hyperactive-impulsive behavior, and a combined type that displays both the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms associated with ADHD. The predominantly inattentive type is sometimes still referred to as ADD, but this is an outdated term for the disorder.

Symptoms of inattention tend to persist through childhood into adulthood. The symptoms of inattention may include difficulty in paying attention to details, easy distractability and inability to concentrate, procrastination of tasks requiring sustained mental effort, frequent careless mistakes, disorganization, difficulty maintaining conversations, and difficulty completing appointed tasks. The symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity are nearly always present before the seventh year and tend to diminish with age. Hyperactivity symptoms may include restlessness, the perceived need to frequently walk or run during periods of prolonged sitting, excessive verbosity, and frequent inappropriate or uninhibited social interactions such as interrupting conversations or games. Hyperactive behavior is often associated with the development of other disruptive behavior disorders. It has been proposed that the impulsivity and inattention associated with ADHD may interfere with social learning in a way that predisposes the individual to the development of these disorders.

While many of these symptoms may sometimes occur in normal children, children with ADHD experience these behaviors more intensely and across several settings. Both children and adults with ADHD may experience these symptoms to a degree that interferes with normal functioning. Some individuals with moderate to severe ADHD may also experience periods of anxiety or depression. Individuals whose predominant symptom is inattention are most prone to depression. It follows that ADHD rarely occurs alone. It has been demonstrated that many people with ADHD also are subject to one or more co-morbid conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities, or substance abuse disorders. Many conditions may have symptoms similar to, and be mistaken for, ADHD. It is critical that co-morbid disorders are diagnosed and treated or efforts to treat the ADHD may fail. When ADHD symptoms are present as a secondary to some other psychiatric disorder, the individual may be incorrectly treated for ADHD. However, when ADHD is the primary disorder, treating it often eliminates other dysfunctions.

There are many ADHD Internet sites available to the public. Many of these sites offer various questionnaires and descriptions of symptoms on the subject of ADHD. These Internet sites are not standardized or scientifically validated and should never be used to diagnose ADHD. A valid diagnosis can only be provided by a qualified, licensed medical professional.