is a developmental problem that usually starts in childhood, increasingly it is also known to affect some adults too (often undiagnosed in the past). Medical research and professional opinion indicates that 60 - 80% of children with ADHD may carry the symptoms into adulthood.
People with ADHD have three main kinds of problems:
Some people have significant problems in concentration and attention, but are not necessarily overactive or impulsive.These people are sometimes described as having Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) rather than ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is an impairment of either activity or attention control or both.
The problems are disabling, start at an early age and they are present in more than one situation, for example home and school.
The consequences of severe ADHD for children, their families and for society can be very serious. Children can develop poor self-esteem, emotional and social problems and their educational achievement is frequently severely impaired. The pressure on families can be extreme.
People with ADHD often:
- are always on the go - cannot stay still
- do not settle to anything,
- have poor concentration,
- have poor ability to organise activities
- have poor ability to engage in tedious activities or tasks requiring sustained mental effort
- cannot wait for others.
- can have difficulty maintaining relationships with others
Sometimes affected children show underachievement at school, poor sleep, social interaction difficulties, discipline problems, temper tantrums, unpopularity, and accident-proneness. However, all these can have other causes too.
There is no single test for ADHD. This can make it difficult to diagnose, and it is very difficult to draw the line between a very active child and one with mild ADHD.
Diagnosis
ADHD is diagnosed by a healthcare professional, usually a child psychiatrist or paediatrician. However, a team of people may be involved in the steps to diagnosis and decisions regarding therapy. These people may include: -
- Child psychiatrist
- Child psychologist
- Educational psychologist
- Neuropsychologist
- Paediatrician
- Paediatric neurologist
- Psychiatric social worker
- Specialists in speech and language, auditory processing, occupational therapy etc
- Teacher
Treatment
Most experts agree that the most effective way to treat ADHD is with several complimentary approaches.
Depending upon the needs of an individual child, effective treatment plans often involve a combination of treatments and support such as psychiatry, psychology, appropriate educational interventions, behavioural therapy and medication.
There is no cure for ADHD but early diagnosis and appropriate help with behaviour, both at home and at school, can make a big difference in helping a child to live as normal a life as possible.
Additional Information
Increased medical research, knowledge and awareness means that the amount of information available about ADHD and associated conditions is growing all the time.
The external links provided below, and throughout our site, aim to provide additional useful information and guidance from professional bodies and other support organisations. They are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice given to you personally.