Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been found to occur in three to five percent of children, with the majority of affected individuals being male (Schmitt, 2000). ADHD is defined by Ford-Martin (1999) as a developmental disorder characterized by distractability, hyperactivity, impulsive behaviors, and the inability to remain focused on tasks or activities. Known outside of the United States as hyperkinetic disorder (HKD), the disorder is difficult to assess in infancy and toddlerhood, but signs begin to appear as early as age two or three.

The causes of ADHD are as yet unknown, but Ford-Martin (1999) suggests that heredity is likely to play a major role in the development of the disorder. Research indicates that children with an ADHD parent or sibling are more likely to develop this disorder. Prior to birth, ADHD children may have been exposed to poor maternal nutrition, viral infections, or maternal substance abuse, all of which have been found in association with the disorder. Early childhood exposure to lead and other toxins may cause ADHD-like symptoms, while traumatic brain injury or neurological disorders have been found to trigger ADHD symptoms.

Ford-Martin (1999) also notes that an imbalance of certain neurotransmitters (i.e., the chemicals in the brain that transmit messages between nerve cells) is believed to be the mechanism behind ADHD symptoms. Rubin (2001) has pointed out that ADHD is a complex disorder with a myriad range of associat

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diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Predominantly Inattentive Type (commonly called ADD) (Ford-Martin, 1999). Brown, Freeman, Perrin, Stein, Amler, Feldman, Pierce, and Wolraich (2001) have commented that epidemiologic studies currently reveal prevalence rates for ADHD generally ranging from four percent to twelve percent of the general population of six to twelve year-olds. Other behavioral, emotional, and learning problems have been found to significantly co-occur with ADHD. Learning disabilities, either consequential to ADHD or existing independently, appear to be the most prevalent comorbid conditions. Behavioral problems, such as aggression, may also be prevalent among children diagnosed with ADHD. The treatment of children with ADHD often includes the use of both stimulant medications and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Wolraich (2001) notes that while significant progress in determining the efficacy of psychotropic medications in the treatment of childhood mental illness has been made, further studies are needed because there is inadequate information about the use of these medications in preschoolers and adolescents. Increased medication use among children with ADHD is a subject

Category: Psychology - A