Content Starts Here

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

print Health and Nutrition > Health Centres

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Other Q&As

Asperger's syndrome

Should I be worried about son's bad behaviour?

Question

My eight-year-old son has just been diagnosed with ADHD. They want to carry out further investigations and send out some questionnaires. They have discussed the possibility of medication.

Please can you give me some information on ADHD and what will the further investigations consist of? What will be asked in the questionnaire? They are also going to appoint a community psychiatric nurse (CPN).

Answer

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a difficult problem for all concerned to manage, especially the parents, and also to diagnose, because there is no one simple test that will give the answer. The main features of ADHD are hyperactivity as shown by:

marked restlessness and inappropriate overactivity

inattentiveness

failing to concentrate and finish a set task

impulsiveness, doing things without thinking about the possible consequences

impatience, unable to wait

butting in on conversations

sometimes antisocial behaviour

general difficulties with conduct.

All these problems are not necessarily associated with immaturity or below average intelligence, but sufferers may have dyslexia or language delay.

Boys are about four times more likely than girls to have this condition, and altogether about 4 per cent of the primary school population is affected to some extent.

Psychological testing, distraction tests and IQ tests are generally not very helpful, but there are checklists and rating scales that can be completed by parents and teachers that can point towards the diagnosis.

School reports may mention problems with behaviour in class, poor concentration and constant fidgeting, and this may add to the diagnostic process.

A CPN will interview your son, and this may also clarify the picture and help decide on the best management.

If your son has ADHD, you may find that medication can be a controversial area, but some children do respond very well to it if an expert properly supervises it. You will need plenty of support, and I hope this is forthcoming to you.

Yours sincerely

Dr Keith Barnard, GP

<<Back

The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use

© Copyright 1998 - 2004 NetDoctor.co.uk - All rights reserved