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Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) ADHD is a disorder with a long name, but its properties make a short story. The child with this disorder is too "full of energy" to settle down, pay attention, finish anything, do school work, do homework, listen to TV or read a book, avoid mistakes, be careful, organize a project, remember to get things done, or shut out disturbing stimuli. The hyperactivity part of the disorder is indicated by general fidgeting, climbing, jumping out of seats in school at inopportune times, running about, and talking too much. Most parents will see immediately that it is no simple matter to distinguish between ADHD and the occasional behaviors of normal children and adolescents, especially males, who tend to be diagnosed more often with ADHD (the same might be said for Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder). The distinction is, in all these cases, a matter of degree and duration. In the cases of ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder, the symptoms must have been present for at least 6 months. In all cases, the symptoms must go distinctly beyond what is expected of normal children of the same age and in similar situations. Some people believe that ADHD is over-diagnosed, and that too many children are, as a result, placed on medication, most often Ritalin. Others point to a difference between use of drugs by Caucasian and African-American children and conclude that ADHD may be under-diagnosed in some groups. Most children are diagnosed during elementary school years, and in most cases the symptoms decrease during late adolescence and early adulthood, although some residual hyperactivity is not unusual; other disorders are also more likely to be present in adults who were diagnosed with ADHD as children. The American Academy of Pediatrics has published new guidelines for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in school-age children, in the October, 2001, issue of Pediatrics. The guidelines are intended to apply only after a secure diagnosis has been made by a competent professional, and are intended for use by primary care physicians. They are based on careful study of the available research. What follows is a very brief summary of the five recommendations. 1. ADHD should be recognized as a chronic condition. 2. Treatment should involve the parents, child, treating physician, and school personnel, who should collaborate on setting treatment goals. 3. When appropriate, behavior therapy and/or stimulant medication should be prescribed. ( Note: Research reported since the guidelines were formulated indicates that guanfacine may be superior to stimulant medications for the treatment of ADHD). 4. When the goals of treatment aren't being met, clinicians should reevaluate the diagnosis and total program. 5. The clinician should provide regular follow-up, paying particular attention to the child's goals and the effects of treatment.A recent study shows that guanfacine is a promising drug for the treatment of ADHD. Professor Lawrence Scahill reported in the July, 2001, issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry that guanfacine is safe and effective for the treatment of ADHD and tic disorders. The average improvement on the ADHD rating scale, in 34 boys and girls, was 37%, compared to 8% in a placebo group. Guanfacine is a better drug than others drugs used to treat ADHD, like Ritalin, methylphenidate and d-amphetamine, because it has fewer side effects and, unlike Ritalin, lessens rather than worsens tics. Read a book on the subject: Books written for parents Taking Charge of ADHD, Revised Edition: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents by Russell Barkley How to Reach
and Teach ADD/ADHD Children: Practical Techniques, Strategies, and Interventions for Helping Children With Attention Power Parenting
for Children With ADD/ADHD: A Practical Parent's Guide Books written for children Learning
to Slow Down and Pay Attention: A Book for Kids About Add Eagle Eyes : A Child's Guide to Paying Attention by Jeanne M. A. Gehret, Susan Covert (Illustrator) Distant
Drums, Different Drummers : A Guide for Young People With
Last updated 12/19/03 |
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