What is Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders affecting children, adolescents and adults. Those diagnosed with ADHD typically have one or more of the following: poor attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. They experience these symptoms to a greater extent than what
would be expected for someone a similar age and developmental stage. ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood, although the condition can continue into the adult years. About 4 – 12% of children and 4% of adults have ADHD.
Warning signs of ADHD are failure to listen to instructions, unable to organize oneself or school work, fidgeting with hands/feet, talking too much, uncompleted tasks/chores and problems with attention span and responding to details. There are several types of ADHD: a predominantly inattentive subtype, a predominantly hyperactive-impulsive subtype, and a combined subtype.
Treatment may involve medications. Most experts agree that treatment for ADHD should address multiple aspects of the individual's functioning and should not be limited to the use of medications alone. Treatment should include structured classroom management, parent education (to address discipline and limit-setting), and tutoring and/or behavioral therapy for the child.
ADHD and Autism
Currently a diagnosis of ADHD does not allow for co-morbidity of autism and ADHD. However, this is being reviewed by the international groups looking at international standard instruments for making disgnoses (DSV-V, ICD-11).
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