Is It ADHD?

     There are medical problems that can occur along with ADHD and there are medical conditions that can be mistaken for ADHD. When parents and physicians are evaluating whether a child or adolescent has ADHD, these other problems should be considered.

     Two important questions that are asked when making the diagnosis of ADHD are: “Were the symptoms present before 7 years of age?” and  “Have the symptoms been present for more than 6 months?” True ADHD symptoms develop early in life and are part of the child’s makeup. As the child gets older, the symptoms cause more and more difficulty for the child. If a child has been previously been doing well but then has a rapid decrease in grades or school performance, ADHD is not the cause. ADHD symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity can be caused by disease, seizures, drug use, depression, sleep disorders or family stresses such as divorce or sexual abuse. A careful investigation of the child’s physical health and social situation needs to be done when ADHD symptoms develop in a child who has not had them before.

     There are also problems that are commonly associated with ADHD. If not recognized, the treatment for the child’s ADHD can be less successful. The most common complications in children who have ADHD are conduct disorders and oppositional defiant disorder. These behavior disorders cause the child to have “repetitive behavior in which social norms and rules are violated” and “defiant, disobedient and hostile behavior”.   Almost 1/3 of children diagnosed as having ADHD have behavior problems. Another problem that limits a child’s response to ADHD therapy is learning disability. It is thought that up to 60% of children with ADHD also have a learning disability. It needs to be considered in any child who is being evaluated for ADHD. Finally, children with ADHD frequently have emotional problems – both anxiety and depression. In order for the ADHD therapy to be successful, these problems need to be treated, too.