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Text Copyright 2007 by Nancy Sculerati MD - all rights reserved
  • Attention Deficit Disorder
    • ADD
  • Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder
    • AD/HD
"Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is among the most prevalent behavioral disorders of childhood, with significant clinical and media interest. Affecting 7.5% of children, many of whom have symptoms persisting into adulthood, this disorder can have lifelong negative impacts on academic success, relationships, self-esteem, and personal safety. Like many mental-health diagnoses, AD/HD brings a wealth of controversy, from its cause and true prevalence to its diagnosis and treatment. Unlike most pediatric psychiatric conditions, fortunately much is known about childhood AD/HD, with a steady stream of new publications furthering our ability to care for affected patients." (Schonwald A. Lechner E. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: complexities and controversies. Current Opinion in Pediatrics. 18(2):189-95, 2006 Apr. )
Tests for ADDH
  • Neuropsychological Testing
Any medical disorder must have a known set of criteria for diagnosis before much else can be said about it. If a disorder is well-defined, then the diagnosis is almost certain to be given by different well-trained and competent "providers" of health care. The trouble with ADDH, in the eyes of at least some providers, parents and educators, is that the criteria for giving this diagnosis include such a broad spectrum of behaviors that it can be applied to many, maybe even most, children - depending on culture and the setting in which they are evaluated. In other words, a normal child may well fidget, be disorganized. and much more easily focus on TV commercials or video games than boring, repetitive tasks. That's especially true if this child has been waiting a long time in a constrained environment, is sleep deprived, hungry or overtaxed.

On the other hand, there are children who - no matter how well-treated and supported, are incessantly impulsive, and unable to .

Physical Findings in the Brain
Risk Factors for Attention Deficit Disorder
  • maternal smoking
  • maternal alcohol use during pregnancy
  • maternal stress during pregnancy
  • lead exposure before or after birth
  • repeated hospitalizations in infancy & early childhood
"Cerebral dysfunction in AD/HD has been localized to the frontosubcortical brain regions, meaning that frontally mediated disinhibition leads to the behavioral symptoms of AD/HD. This circuitry is thought to be influenced by subcortical projections. Previous computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies have shown structural differences in the brains of children with AD/HD compared with controls: decreased volumes in the frontal cortex, cerebellum and subcortical structures, the same areas implicated in functional studies."(Schonwald A. Lechner E. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: complexities and controversies. Current Opinion in Pediatrics. 18(2):189-95, 2006 Apr. )
Genetics
References
External Links
NYU CHILD STUDY CENTER

Child & Adolescent Behavior, Psychology & Psychiatry
Nemours - Kids Health

General Pediatric and Adolescent Information
Mayo Clinic

Broad Expertise - Award Winning Website
Cleveland Clinic

Broad Expertise - Award Winning Website
The United States federally-funded
National Library of Medicine & National Institutes of Health
present articles aimed at patients without specialized knowlege or advanced science education