What is ADHD?

ADHD, sometimes called ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), is a psychiatric illness found predominantly in children who have three main behaviour problems:

• Hyperactivity

• Impulsive behaviour

• Short attention span

Children with these tendencies find it difficult to fit in at school. Concentrating on lessons is difficult, they get into trouble because they act on impulse and parents find them exhausting because of they're hyperactive.

How does someone get ADHD?

We don't really know. We know it's much more common in boys, and research suggests there's a genetic component. It's thought that the genes fail to control the part of the brain involved with the chemical dopamine correctly. Dopamine is a natural chemical responsible for transmitting signals between nerve cells in the brain. An imbalance in the amount of dopamine in the brain causes abnormal behaviour. Using medication can redress this imbalance.

The symptoms of ADHD are nothing to do with bad parenting.

Many parents who have one child with ADHD, have other children who behave normally and do well at school.

Although ADD has an onset in childhood, it often continues into adulthood, and there are many adults who are only beginning to recognise their symptoms, but many more still who are undiagnosed. Although the hyperactivity will diminish, attention problems often continue into adulthood. See Adult ADD
ADD is a neuro-psychiatric condition which is widely misunderstood by others. The child is often labelled as naughty and disruptive, and the parents blamed. Treatment options include the stimulant medications Ritalin or Dexedrine, although they have received much bad press, mostly through ignorance and misunderstanding. In a recent article in the Guernsey Evening Press (18 November 2000), it is stated that about 50 local school children (Guernsey population 60,000) are prescribed Ritalin from the local ADD Clinic at Bell House. Others are on alternative (e.g. fish oils) or no medication. A 3 page article in the Guernsey Press on 8 December 2000 featured 5 local children with ADD who are presently treated with Ritalin, where they and their parents spoke about the difference that Ritalin has made to their lives. With Ritalin, they are quoted as - being able to concentrate better, achieve higher grades at school, are less impulsive, less isolated, stable mood, control rage, feel calmer, less aggressive, more relaxed, more responsive, has friends. For another, the Ritalin had negative effects, and for others, Ritalin can exacerbate any tics - and perhaps trigger the onset of Tourette Syndrome in a child who is (genetically) going to have Tourette Syndrome anyway.

Inattention

At least six of the following symptoms of inattention have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level of the child:

1. often fails to give close attention to details, or makes careless errors in schoolwork, work, or other activities 
2. often fails to sustain attention in tasks or play activities 
3. often appears not to listen to what is being said to him or her 
4. often fails to follow through on instructions or to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not because of oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions) 
5. is often impaired in organizing tasks and activities 
6. often avoids or strongly dislikes tasks, such as housework, that require sustained mental effort 
7. often loses things necessary for certain tasks or activities, such as school assignments, pencils, books, toys or tools 
8. is often easily distracted by external stimuli 
9. is often forgetful in the course of daily activities

Hyperactivity

At least 3 of the following symptoms of hyperactivity have persisted for at least 6 months, to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level of the child:

1. often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat 
2. leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected 
3. often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate (in adolescents or adults, only feelings of restlessness may be present) 
4. is often unduly noisy in playing, or has difficulty in engaging quietly in leisure activities 
5. exhibits a persistent pattern of excessive motor activity that is not substantially modified by social context or demands

Impulsivity

At least one of the following symptoms of impulsivity has persisted for at least 6 months, to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with the developmental level of the child:

1. often blurts out answers before questions have been completed 
2. often fails to wait in lines or await turns in games or group activities 
3. often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into others' conversations or games) 
4. often talks excessively without appropriate response to social constraints

Onset of the disorder is no later than the age of 7 years

Pervasiveness

The criteria should be met for more than a single situation eg. the combination of inattention and hyperactivity should be present both at home and at school and another setting where children are observed, such as a clinic (evidence for cross-situationality will ordinarily require information from more than one source; parental reports about classroom behaviour, for instance, are unlikely to be sufficient