Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder General Information

What Are Attention Deficit Disorders?
The most common form of Attention Deficit Disorders is Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), characterized by both attention and behavior problems. A smaller number of people have only attention problems. This less common form of ADHD is called ADHD, predominantly inattentive type. ADHD is seen in three to five percent of children with boys outnumbering girls by about four or five to one.

Isn’t ADHD Just Some Kind of New “Fad” Diagnosis?
No. There are descriptions in literature of children with ADD symptoms that date back to the 1700’s. Doctors adequately described the disorder in the 1930’s and discovered that stimulant medications reduced hyperactivity. In the past, these persons were often regarded as lazy, unmotivated, slow learners and behavioral problems. However, since there are no absolute tests for ADHD, the risk for over diagnosis does exist.

If a Child Doesn’t Have These Problems All the Time, He Doesn’t Have ADHD Right?
There are some situations in which children with ADHD can sustain their attention and keep their behavior under control. Examples of such situations include: watching television, playing with a video game or a computer, in a quiet room with an adult, one-on-one situations, in the presence of an adult male, engaging in tasks that are novel or interesting or in a highly structured classroom with a low number of students.

In contrast, situations in which ADHD symptoms are most likely to show up are stimulating settings like grocery stores, department/toy stores, parties or amusement parks. Settings where a child is required to sit still and pay attention for prolonged periods of time, such as schoolrooms, restaurants, churches, unstructured school settings, classes with a number of students or doing tasks that are prolonged, tedious or routine.

If a Child Isn’t Hyperactive, That Means He Doesn’t Have ADHD, Right?
Children who have ADHD, predominantly inattentive type, are usually not hyperactive. They often escape the attention of teachers and physicians until they are teenagers, when academic tasks become overwhelming. They may be mistaken as lazy or unmotivated students who are persistent underachievers. Completing their classroom assignments is difficult. Homework is often an ordeal for both student and parent, and completed assignments often disappear between home and school. Usually these youngsters are disorganized and forgetful. They may develop a reputation as a daydreamer or space cadet.

What Is the Cause of ADHD?
The cause of ADHD is not known for sure. Family studies indicate genetic causes in most cases. Other research indicates that the parts of the brain that govern attention, filter out distractions and control impulses (sometimes called the “executive centers” of the brain) are behind in development. This has nothing to do with intelligence. People with all levels of intelligence can have ADHD.

Are There Any Other Causes?
In a few cases, the symptoms seen in ADHD are caused by other disorders such as low birth weight, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (injury to fetus when expectant mothers consume alcohol), cocaine babies (injury to the fetus when expecting mothers use cocaine), lead poisoning, Tourette’s Disorder (a rare, genetic tic disorder) or severe head injury.

What About Causes Like Sugar Imbalance, Vitamin Deficiencies or Food Dyes?
Studies consistently show that blood sugar levels or too much sugar in the diet bear no relationship to hyperactivity. Food dyes, vitamin deficiencies and fluorescent lighting in the classroom were once thought to cause ADHD and now have been found to be unrelated to the disorder.

Isn’t ADHD Really Caused By Parents Who Don’t Know How to Raise Children?
Children with ADHD are not as responsive to normal discipline techniques as children without ADHD. They seem to have a great deal of trouble with learning from their mistakes. These children require very consistent parental responses and the results are still less than ideal.

Frustrated parents of children with ADHD may either yell at them, berate them or just the opposite; ignore their negative behavior. These responses may give the impression that the parents lack skill. It is important to point out that when a child with ADHD is treated successfully, parents often react more positively to their children. However, parents’ mental and emotional well being can make ADHD worse or interfere with treatment. Examples of parent problems that have been found to have such an effect are depression, alcohol/drug problems, severe marital problems or divorce.

Are There Any Special Problems Associated With ADHD?
Children with ADHD are found to have higher than expected rates of ear infections, learning disabilities, oppositional disorders (noncompliance, anger problems, defiance of rules) and conduct disorders (fighting, cruelty, fire setting, truancy, delinquency and substance abuse in adolescence).

Do Children Outgrow ADHD?
A majority of young people with ADHD will still have problems in their adolescence and still need treatment. Many adults (about a third to a half) who had ADHD as a child still have problems with attention, impulse control and organization. Recent studies suggest that treatment may still be needed for these individuals. Some physicians still tell parents and teachers that children outgrow ADHD in their adolescence or medications no longer work after puberty. Neither of these statements is correct.

How Is ADHD Diagnosed? Don’t You Need Psychological Tests or Blood Tests?
There are no blood tests, psychological tests or medical/neurological examinations that are unique enough to confirm ADHD as the diagnosis. When doctors order tests, they are usually looking for another problem that is complicating the picture or could interfere with treatment. At present, the diagnosis is made by taking a careful history and, whenever possible, getting information from many sources including parents and teachers. In addition, behavior checklists are helpful in making the diagnosis.

Can ADHD Be Treated?
Like many medical problems, it can be treated, but not “cured.”
The treatment of ADHD depends upon the type and severity of symptoms presented, coexisting problems in the child (such as learning disabilities, severe conduct problems, depression, etc.), school setting and family stressors. Some individuals show dramatic improvement with a relatively low level of intervention, such as use of medications along with parent and patient education. In other situations more aggressive intervention is required such as, behavior modification programs implemented at home and in school, altering the school program or individual treatment for parents with psychiatric disorders. Sometimes interventions designed to reduce stress in the family, such as marital counseling or divorce mediation, are necessary.

What About Diet, Megavitamins and Other Forms of Treatment?
The following forms of treatment have not been found effective with ADHD:

Sugar restriction
EEG biofeedback
Restriction of food dyes (additives)
Vitamin therapy
Allergy treatment
Herbal therapy
Chiropractic medicine
Occupational therapy or sensorimotor integration therapy
Removal of fluorescent lighting in the classroom

In Summary
ADHD can be hard to identify and it may take some time before it is diagnosed. Be patient and give your child a lot of emotional and loving support until the cause of the problem is found. Parents should work with the child’s pediatrician, teachers and counselors to learn to cope with ADHD. We strongly recommend obtaining as much information as possible about ADHD.

Where Can I Obtain Information About ADHD?

To obtain a free ADD Warehouse catalog:
(Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST)
1-800-233-9273
www.addwarehouse.com

Other Readings:
Books for young people with ADHD:

Quinn, P.O. & Stern, J.M., Putting on the Brakes: Young People’s Guide to Understanding ADHD, New York: Magination Press, 1991.

Books for Parents and Teachers:

Barkley, Russell, Taking Charge of ADHD, New York: Guilford Press, 1995 ($16.95 paperback).

Hallowell, E. & Ratey, J., Driven to Distraction, New York: Pantheon Press, 1994.

Hallowell, E. & Ratey, J., Answers to Distraction, New York: Bantam, 1994.