Recognition of ADHD as a Medical Condition

ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders in American children. It affects from three percent to five percent of school-age youngsters. Hinshaw (1994) cites evidence that up to seven percent of the child population may be categorized with ADHD, depending on the particular criteria used (p. 15). ADHD is three times more likely to be prevalent in boys than in girls (Schwiebert, Sealander, and Tollerud, 1995, p. 249). Among clinic-referred populations, the ratio runs as high as eight to 10 male clinic attendees to each female (Hinshaw, 1994, p. 79). About half of all children with ADHD exhibit the first signs of the disorder before 4, although the symptoms are most often diagnosed when the child reaches elementary school (Schwiebert, Sealander, and Tollerud, 1995, p. 249).

ADHD is characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and overactivity. (A subtype of ADHD is Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), in which inattention is not accompanied by hyperactivity.) Children with ADHD have a hard time concentrating and maintaining normal

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ty also manifests itself in the ADHD child as excessive talking, inability to engage in leisure activities quietly, excessive running or climbing, and a general impression of being constantly on the go (Hinshaw, 1994, p. 13). Because ADHD is more commonly diagnosed in boys, few researchers have studied differences in the manifestation of the disorder by sex. The limited number of girls in clinical populations prompts many investigators to include only boys in their research. Most studies which have examined gender and ADHD have found that the disorder appears similarly in boys and girls (Hinshaw, 1994, p. 80). Other investigators report that boys exhibit more intense levels of aggressive and antisocial behavior and that girls more often suffer cognitive problems, language disability, and diminished neurological status (Hinshaw, 1994, p. 80). In general, girls were found to be more socially withdrawn and to have more internalized symptoms (e.g., anxiety or depression) of ADHD than boys (Barkley, 1990, p. 67). The tendency of boys to be more aggressive and antisocial partially accounts for their referral to psychiatric clinics in much greater numbers than girls because uncontrollable behavior is more likely to attract attenti
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Approximate Word count = 2103
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)

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