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» Schizophrenia
- Featured Stories - Schizophrenia Research - Recently Diagnosed » Depression - Featured Stories - Depression Research - Recently Diagnosed » Bipolar Disorder - Featured Stories - Bipolar Disorder Research - Recently Diagnosed » Anxiety - Generalized Anxiety - Panic Disorder - Phobias - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Post-Traumatic Disorder - Featured Stories - Anxiety Research - Recently Diagnosed  Childhood Disorders
- Childhood Anxiety Disorder - Autism - Childhood Bipolar Disorder - Childhood Depression - Eating Disorders - Childhood Schizophrenia - Featured Stories - Childhood Disorders Research - Recently Diagnosed |
 ADHD  Research shows ADHD affects approximately 3 percent to 5 percent of all American children, or approximately 2 million children in the United States; thus in a classroom of 25 to 30 children, it is likely that at least one child will have ADHD. Diagnosis Symptoms of ADHD appear over the course of many months, often with symptoms emerging in different settings, depending on the demands the situation may pose for the child's self-control. The principal characteristics of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Children may fall into one or all three subtypes of the behavior - predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type (that does not show significant inattention); predominantly inattentive type (that does not show significant hyperactive-impulsive behavior) sometimes called ADD; and combined type (that displays both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms). ADHD is not easy to diagnose, especially when inattentiveness is the primary symptom. An ADHD diagnosis in a child is based on the number, persistence, and history of ADHD behaviors, and the degree to which they impede the child's performance in more than one setting. Causes The most substantiated causes for ADHD appear to be neurobiological differences in the brain and the way it functions in children with the condition. The causes of these differences are not known, but it is believed ADHD is highly genetic. With these recent findings, ADHD is now considered to be among the most recognized genetics-based disorders in psychiatry. Between 10 percent and 35 percent of children with ADHD have a very close relative with ADHD, and nearly half of parents who had ADHD as a child have a child with the disorder. Treatment Although there is no “cure” for ADHD, it is treatable. Current treatment practices focus on symptom management through a combination of methods: medications, behavior modification, or combination therapy. With proper treatment, children with ADHD can lead productive and fulfilling lives. If you think your child may be experiencing symptoms of ADHD, trained medical help should be sought immediately. Families can turn to child psychiatrists and psychologists, developmental/behavioral pediatricians, or behavioral neurologists. These individuals are those who are most often trained in ADHD or in the diagnosis of other childhood mental disorders. Clinical social workers may also have such training. » NARSAD's Role in Childhood Disorders Research
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