by Lanae

Created on: September 20, 2009   Last Updated: September 21, 2009

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological syndrome which is exhibited in sufferers through symptoms such as decreased impulse control, forgetfulness, hyperactivity, or distractibility/lack of concentration. ADHD is most commonly diagnosed in children, when an adult is said to have this disorder their syndrome is defined as: adult attention deficit disorder (AADD). As of yet there are no clinical diagnostic tests with which to signal or rate these disorders however a great many theories on the cause of these syndromes. Everything ranging from genetics, to environmental stimuli such as food and drink, to traumatic brain injuries has been blamed as possible causes for this disorder however there is not enough substantial proof to fully back any of these theories to a major degree.

Approximate rates of ADHD vary greatly due to differing accounts of impairment and altered diagnostic criteria. Listed below is a prevalence study along with explanations of its differing results depending on the alterations or exceptions made in the particular case study:

This presentation examines the impact of various definitions of impairment on national prevalence. Methods: Data from over 10,000 sample children between the ages of 4 and 17 with parent-completed Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in the 2001 NHIS. Results: 12.2% of boys and 5.6% of girls met symptom score criterion, but the prevalence dropped to 5.6% of boys and 2.3% of girls when the impact requirement was included. When impairment in at least two settings was used instead, the prevalence was 4.2% of boys and 1.8% of girls. Requiring distress in the child resulted in further reduction. Among those with SDQ ADHD, 35.3% of boys and 41.1% of girls had talked to a mental health professional in past 12 months, compared to 4.8% of boys and 4.7% of girls without SDQ ADHD. 49.6% of boys and 55.6% of girls with SDQ ADHD had talked to a health professional for emotional/behavioral problems, compared to 6.6% of boys and 6.2% of girls without SDQ ADHD. (Robert E. McKeown, PhD, NIMH, 2006.)

The conclusions that were drawn from this study proved that there were obvious impacts on prevalence depending on the inclusion of different definitions of impairment or altered case definitions. No matter what the higher level of service among children with greater symptoms or impairment however, there are still extremely high percentages of children who go daily

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