Specialist Advice — 12 minutes
Trouble concentrating? It could be ADHD.
- “He always does things at the last minute!”
- “Her parents are not strict enough and we can see the result!”
- “He can’t focus on anything!”
- “Lack of willpower – where there’s a will, there’s a way!”
All of these comments, sometimes harsh, are well known to people living with attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD). Living with ADHD clearly has its challenges, but the better we understand this disorder, the better we can equip ourselves to manage it.
Fact: It is estimated that 5%-9% of children and adolescents and 3%-5% of adults suffer from ADHD. [1] These people are also more likely to suffer from depression, mood disorders, anxiety and sleep disorders. [2]
ADHD is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and persists into adulthood in about 50% of cases. [11,12] Experts now recognize ADHD as a neurodevelopmental disorder, but diagnosis is not always obvious, especially when ADHD is combined with other disturbances or illnesses such as oppositional defiant disorder, language disorder and anxiety. [3,4,5] Consequently, diagnostic tests should be performed by pediatricians or mental health professionals who have experience in diagnosing and treating ADHD.
Diagnosis is based on observing the symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity as well as a comprehensive assessment of psychiatric health. [6] This preliminary examination is essential, as treatment failure is often due to a psychiatric component that was not detected and treated. This may make the imbalance worse.
When school grades do not meet expectations, ADHD is often the main suspect for parents and teachers looking for a culprit. However, while pressure to perform in school is an incentive to correct the problem quickly, a comprehensive and detailed assessment of the student reduces the risk of missing an important part of the problem and making the situation worse.
The most efficacious treatment usually involves combining medication with psychological and behavioural therapies. Close co-operation between therapists, doctors, teachers and parents is essential. Consequently, team meetings actively contribute to the success of the treatment.
Medication
Medication often reduces hyperactivity and improves concentration. To avoid potential side effects, the physician must carefully monitor the dosage of the stimulant medication to determine the optimal amount. In addition, media attention surrounding ADHD in recent years has led to a growing concern about the rise in prescriptions for psychostimulants.[9,10]
Psychological therapy
Behaviour modification, often combined with specific educational interventions, is now the most recommended therapy for children and adults.
