By Georgina
Affecting millions of children, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) is a frequently undiagnosed chronic condition. Symptoms of ADHD include difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour, a combination of persistent problems.
Most children aren't diagnosed with ADHD until they're school age although the genetic disorder is present at birth. The average age of ADHD diagnosis is 7 years old.
Furthermore, ADHD frequently goes undiagnosed because girls with ADHD are less likely to behave disruptively, (the most commonly recognisable sign of ADHD) than boys with the disorder. In fact, during their lifetimes, 13% men will be diagnosed with ADHD but only 4.2% of women will be diagnosed. This is because it is possible the nature of ADHD symptoms in boys make their condition more noticeable than it is in girls. Boys tend to display more externalized symptoms such as impulsivity, hyperactivity and lack of focus. However, on the other hand, ADHD in girls is often easy to overlook because it’s not as typical or obvious as they are in boys. Thcan include being withdrawn, tending to daydream, low self-esteem and anxiety.
Although there’s no ‘simple’ test to determine ADHD, interviews as a form of assessment and a physical examination may help rule out other possible causes for the symptoms.
ADHD can be treated with therapy, medication or a combination of both. Treatment is usually arranged by a specialist, such as a paediatrician or psychiatrist, although the condition is usually monitored by your general practitioner. The two most common medications used to treat ADHD are Ritalin and Adderall. Ritalin, a first line medication, is a stimulant drug which can be used to treat both ADHD and narcolepsy. It is taken by mouth or applied to the skin; different formulations have varying durations of effect. Adderall is a prescription medication that contains both amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. It belongs to a class of medications called stimulants and can also be used to treat both narcolepsy and ADHD.
In addition, ADHD doesn’t increase a person’s risk of other conditions or diseases but some children with ADHD are more likely to experience a range of coexisting conditions. Some possible coexisting conditions include learning disabilities, antisocial behaviour, anxiety disorders, depression, bed-wetting problems and bipolar disorder.
Edited by: Simoni Shah, Ashna Chaturvedi and Noelle Darts
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