Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Short attention span
| Download this episodeIt’s one of the most common mental disorders affecting children. It also affects many of this nation’s adults. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, better known as ADHD, has been diagnosed in an estimated 5 percent of the nation’s children and 2.5 percent of its adults, according to the American Psychiatric Association. A short attention span and a high level of activity are normal parts of childhood. But for children with ADHD, these behaviors are excessive, inappropriate for their age, and interfere with daily functioning at home, school, and with peers. Some children with ADHD only have problems with attention. Other children only have issues with hyperactivity and impulsivity. Most children with ADHD have problems with all three. As they grow into adolescence and young adulthood, children with ADHD may become less hyperactive yet continue to have significant problems with distraction, disorganization, and poor impulse control.
Different symptoms
Download this episodeThe principal characteristics of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Because many typically developing children may have these symptoms, but at a low and manageable level, or the symptoms may be caused by another disorder such as anxiety or trauma-related diagnosis, it is important that the child receive a thorough examination and appropriate diagnosis by a qualified professional. Different symptoms may appear in different settings, depending on the demands the situation may pose for the child’s self-control. A child who is disruptive will be noticed in school, but the inattentive daydreamer may be overlooked. The impulsive child who acts before thinking may be considered a “discipline problem,” while the child who is passive or sluggish may be viewed as merely unmotivated. Yet both may have different types of ADHD. Because the symptoms vary so much across settings, ADHD is not easy to diagnose.
No specific cause
Download this episodeUAMS child psychologist Dr. Khiela Holmes says that there is no specific cause for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder although research has shown that genetics is often a factor. Three out of four children with ADHD in this country have a close relative with the disorder, according to the American Psychiatric Association. To make a proper diagnosis, Dr. Holmes says it’s vital that a specialist examine the child. The specialist will rule out other explanations for the behaviors and use several rating scales to track his or her symptoms. The specialist will also collect information from family members and the child’s teachers. Sometimes it can be hard to diagnose a child with ADHD because the symptoms may look like other problems. For example, a child may seem quiet and well-behaved, but in fact he or she is having a hard time paying attention and is often distracted. Or, a child may act badly in school but teachers don’t realize that the child has ADHD.
1 in 7 children
Download this episodeResearch by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that one in seven children in this country between the ages of 2 to 8 has some form of mental, behavioral or developmental problem. Data from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children’s Health showed that a large number of the nation’s children suffer from problems like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression and anxiety. The study, published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report last month, showed that the prevalence of disorders varied from state to state. California, for example, ranked low with 10.6 percent while Arkansas and Kentucky had the most cases with 21.5 percent. More boys than girls were shown to have behavioral problems, according to the study, which also found that children with psychological disorders were less likely to have access to comprehensive medical care than others.
Drugs and therapy
Download this episodeThere is no cure for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder although behavioral therapy, strategies to teach skills such as planning and organization, environmental supports at school and home and medication has been shown to relieve its symptoms. For children, the therapy usually consists of teaching parents and teachers how to provide positive feedback for desired behaviors and consequences for negative ones. Although behavioral therapy requires careful coordination, it can help children learn how to control their behavior and emotions and make good choices. Stimulant medications are highly effective treatments that have been safely used for decades. Two non-stimulant medications, atomoxetine and guanfacine, have been shown to be effective in treating those who don’t respond well to stimulants. The type or extent of treatment is likely to change over time as children mature and learn to cope with the demands placed on them.Trusted by thousands of listeners every week, T. Glenn Pait, M.D., began offering expert advice as the host of UAMS’ “Here’s to Your Health” program in 1996. Dr. Pait began working at UAMS in 1994 and has been practicing medicine for over 20 years.