Attention Deificit Hyperactivity Disorder

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by Eileen Bailey
Friday, March 20, 2009

ADD/ADHD or Attention Deficit Disorder is a common behavioral disorder.  The acronym of ADD is normally used whether or not hyperactivity is present.  It is estimated that between 3% and 8% of all children have ADD.  Boys are diagnosed with ADD more often than girls, although ADD is considered to be as prevalent is girls as it is in boys.  One theory for this is that ADD (Inattentive type) may be more prevalent in girls and is harder to diagnose than ADD with hyperactivity. 

ADD is characterized by symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsiveness, distractibility and difficulty sustaining attention for periods of time. Symptoms may be different in each person with ADD.  Some may have more of a problem with inability to focus, while others may have the most difficult time with impulsiveness.  Yet another may struggle with hyperactivity.  All symptoms of ADD need not be present in order to have a diagnosis of ADD.   The complete list of diagnostic criteria can be found in the DSM IV.

Children with ADD are often diagnosed after beginning school.  This occurs because school may be the first environment where a child is expected to sit still for extended periods of time and sustain attention and focus.  This does not mean that ADD occurs when a child reaches school age.  ADD is present at birth and continues into adulthood.  However, at home, or in environments where there is more flexibility, the symptoms of ADD may not be as prevalent or may be accepted by caregivers and therefore not seen as impairment.  Most parents of children with ADD, however, have noticed differences in their child from a very early age, even if not diagnosed until later.  In addition, the DSM-IV criteria for diagnosing ADD indicate that symptoms must be present in at least 2 environments. 

A primary physician most often completes diagnosis of ADD.  They will gather information from parents, teachers and care-givers as well as an evaluation of the child to determine if ADD is present.  There are a number of physical illnesses that can cause similar symptoms. The physician should rule out these as a cause of symptoms, as well as determine if behaviors are a result of psychological factors such as a move or a divorce in the family.  There are currently no medical tests that will show whether ADD is present or not.  The diagnosis is made based on the information the physician gathers, as well as their personal evaluation.

Although the biological origins of ADD have not yet been determined, there is a strong suggestion of heredity.  There are a great many children with ADD who have a close family member with ADD as well.  There are theories that link smoking during pregnancy, low birth rate, and premature birth to ADD but there has been no definitive proof to substantiate these theories. 

Research on the brain has shown that some areas of the brain can be up to 10% smaller in individuals with ADD, however ADD does not affect intelligence.