ADHD/ADD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention Deficit Disorder

ADHD is one of the most prevalent childhood disorders, seen in 6% to 9% of school aged children. It accounts for over 30% of referrals to mental health services. Although it appears that the incidence has risen in the last 20 years, this is probably due to better recognition and diagnosis as more clinicians have become familiar with its symptoms, and criteria for diagnosing ADHD have been refined. More and more evidence suggests that ADHD is a biological brain-based condition that typically, especially if untreated, can lead to poor school performance; loss of self-esteem; failed friendships, and continued social, emotional and performance failure through adolescence and into adulthood.

It has other co-morbidities associated with it, including anxiety & phobias; mood disorder, major depression & bipolar disorder; disruptive behavior, juvenile delinquency, oppositional defiant disorder & conduct disorder; tics, Tourette syndrome & obsessive compulsive disorder; mental subnormality and pervasive developmental disorder (autism). Neurological problems may cloud the picture and may also be co-morbidities. These include learning problems, motor incoordination; mild asymmetries with weakness of one side of the body; communication and language processing difficulties; and seizure disorders, particularly “absence and absence variant seizures,” which could mimic ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder, and “partial complex seizures” which could mimic disruptive, aggressive behaviors. Although when viewed all together this list appears daunting, no child has all these problems, and with early identification, most of these conditions are treatable. The speakers will address these problems and talk about recognition, diagnosis and management aspects to minimize the effects of the problem.