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About ADHD
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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a mental condition that affects the ability to focus, control impulses and concentrate on a task. ADHD interferes with the person’s ability to be productive and can also affect how the person develops social relationships or self-esteem. ADHD begins in childhood and persists into adolescence and adulthood in 40 to70% of all cases. It is estimated that ADHD affects 3 to 7% of children from diverse cultures and geographic regions. Some studies even report frequencies of up to 12%. This means that in a classroom of 25 to 30 children, at least one child will have ADHD. Boys are 2 to 3 times more frequently diagnosed with ADHD than girls. As the illness in general remains under-recognised, less than half of the affected children and adolescents receive a diagnosis. As a result, even fewer children receive the appropriate treatment.
Left untreated, ADHD might have a negative impact on the wellbeing of a child and his/her family. A child with ADHD who has not been diagnosed and has not been treated is likely to be negatively affected regarding academic achievements, socialization, emotional problems and will probably experience behavioural problems into adulthood.
Mostly, ADHD is diagnosed during primary school years. Symptoms of ADHD have to be present before the age of seven and can last into adolescence and adulthood. Although some symptoms (e.g. hyperactivity) tend to reduce during late adolescence and early adulthood, people do not outgrow ADHD, but some learn to master strategies to compensate for remaining symptoms, such as impulsivity and / or inattention.
Until now, the causes are still not fully understood, but a genetic element may be involved. Diagnosis the condition can be difficult, as a number of symptoms are involved. In most cases one symptom will stand out. Depending on which of these symptoms is more prominent, a diagnosis of one of the three subtypes of ADHD will be made:
- Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive
- Predominantly inattentive
- Combined ADHD
The consequences of ADHD for children, their families and for society can be very serious. Children may develop poor self-esteem, emotional, and social problems, and their educational achievement is frequently severely impaired. Importantly, children with moderate to severe ADHD symptoms are at increased risk of having other problems such as anxiety, depression, antisocial behaviour, high-risk behaviours (for example, reckless driving or unprotected sex), delinquency, or substance abuse. Also, the pressure on families can sometimes be huge.
Although ADHD causes considerable problems for a child and his/her environment, a number of treatments have been developed to treat the condition. These can help the child to pick up a normal daily life. Treatment includes psychosocial and educational programmes as well as, in most cases, medication.
If you suspect your child suffers from ADHD, the first step is talking to your doctor and your child's teacher(s). Your doctor will be able to provide you with more information and refer you to a specialist healthcare professional. Getting information from your child's teacher will be helpful in assessing your child's problems and reaching a diagnosis where appropriate. The earlier ADHD is diagnosed, the better the social and academic outcome for the child.
Having a child with ADHD poses significant problems to many parents who often want to hide their child's condition. However, discussing the condition with family and friends can provide much needed support and understanding and relieve the burden of ADHD. ADHD is often misinterpreted as bad behaviour as a result of bad upbringing and education. This is not true at all: ADHD is a recognised condition. Communicating about this condition with family, friends and teachers, will most probably improve their relationship with your child, as well as improve family life, support and understanding.
Thanks to the treatment programmes, which can include medication, and the support from parents, relatives, teachers and friends, many children and adolescents with ADHD grow up to be successful adults who enjoy a normal life.
