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(August 12, 2004) -- JUSTIN'S schoolteacher described him as "the boy who has the inability to stay put in class." At home, it was no different. "When we fed Justin, he ran around or played with the kitchen utensils," the mother reports.
Justin is suffering from, according to his doctor, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Experts in Asia estimate that three to ten percent of school-age kids have this disorder. These youngsters manifest the following three main features: hyperactivity (fidgeting, excessive running and climbing, leaving one's classroom seat), impulsivity (blurting answers in class, interrupting others, having problems waiting turns), and inattention-forgetful (disorganization, losing things, careless mistakes).
Even though ADHD is so widespread, scientists are only beginning to learn more about it. For years, the popular opinion was that these fidgety, incredibly impulsive kids were just brats--and that upbringing (or the lack of it) were the likely cause.
"Now, we know that ADHD is not the fault of the parents but rather the result of an insufficient amount of one or more of the chemicals in the nervous system responsible for concentration and attention," says Dr. Ellen Gellerstedt, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in New York, who specializes in developmental and behavioral pediatrics. "It's not that these kids are stupid or brats. They know the rules. They are so impulsive that they act before they think."
Studies have shown that boys are four times more likely to suffer from ADHD than girls. However, some experts believe that boys are more readily diagnosed than girls since they are most likely to have the impulsive type.
Recent studies have unveiled some facts about ADHD. Oftentimes, children with ADHD cannot concentrate on schoolwork. Explains Dr. Frank Minirth, a medical doctor who has authored more than 30 books: "Try as they might, they can't keep their mind on the subject for more than a few moments. Long after their classmates have finished a page of math problems, they're still halfheartedly trying to decide which one to do next."
Internal things distract ADHD kids. While most children can block out the random thoughts and concentrate on the thought or task at hand, ADHD children could not. "The random, unrelated thought intrudes, lingers, and distracts," Dr. Minirth says.
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ADHD kids are unusually impulsive. They act without thinking. They flit from one activity to another. More importantly, they require constant supervision. Justin's mother constantly was coaching him, reminding him. At school, the teacher hovered over him like an eagle. Without someone telling him, Justin couldn't stay on track.
ADHD kids are always on the go! Justin, for instance, was on the go from walking (he was an early riser) to bedtime (he was a night owl). He never slowed down. His father claimed he got exhausted just watching the boy. "I don't know where he gets all those energy!" the father exclaimed.
Until recently, it was believed that children outgrew ADHD in adolescence. This is because hyperactivity often diminishes during the teen years. It is now known that many symptoms continue into adulthood. If the disorder goes undiagnosed, untreated or is treated inadequately during adulthood, adults may have trouble at work and in relationships, as well as emotional difficulties.
Medical science first documented children exhibiting inattentiveness, impulsivity and hyperactivity in 1902. Since that time, the disorder has been given numerous names, including Minimal Brain Dysfunction, Hyperkinetic Reaction of Childhood, and Attention Deficit Disorder With or Without Hyperactivity. With the fourth edition classification system of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the disorder has been renamed to ADHD.
Determining if a child has ADHD is a multifaceted process. "Many biological and psychological problems can contribute to symptoms similar to those exhibited by children with ADHD," a medical doctor explains. For example, anxiety, depression and certain types of learning disabilities may cause similar symptoms.
Paradoxically, there is no single test to diagnose ADHD. As such, a comprehensive evaluation is necessary to establish a diagnosis, rule out other causes and determine the presence or absence of co-existing conditions. Such an evaluation requires time and effort and should include a clinical assessment of the individual's academic, social and emotional functioning and developmental level. A careful history should be taken from the parents, teachers and the child, when appropriate.
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