With treatment, most people with ADHD can be successful in school, lead productive lives, and have positive, meaningful relationships. Treatments include medication, various types of psychotherapy, education, training, tutoring, or a combination of treatments.
How Common is ADHD?
Studies show that 9 percent of American children between age 13 to 18 years are affected by ADHD. Symptoms usually appear early in life, often between the ages of 3 and 6 with the average age of onset being 7 years old; however, because symptoms vary between individuals and there is no single test, which can diagnose a person as having ADHD, it can be difficult to diagnose.
Subtypes and Common Symptoms of ADHD
Common Symptoms of ADHD include difficulty staying focused and controlling behavior, impaired attention, impulsivity, hyperactivity (over-activity), and lack of intrinsic motivation.
ADHD has three subtypes:
- Predominantly Hyperactive-impulsive
- Predominantly Inattentive
- Combined Type of Predominantly Hyperactive-impulsive and Inattentive
Most children and teens with ADHD have the combined type. Children and teens with the predominantly inattentive type are less prone to act out or have social challenges. They may sit quietly in class, but are inattentive to class activities. As a result, these students may be overlooked because parents and teachers may not notice any symptoms of ADHD, since they lack many of the hyperactive symptoms.
Causes of ADHD
Numerous studies suggest that there is a biological basis and cause for ADHD. Many studies show impaired frontal lobe functioning, (this is the part of the brain that governs executive functioning, planning, goal-setting, organization, etc.) while others point to abnormalities in the dopamine neurotransmitter system (dopamine is a chemical in the brain and the “neurotransmitter system” refers to how much dopamine is available in the brain). Some other minor structural differences in the brain may also account for some of the causes of ADHD.
As a parent, it can be overwhelming to make sense of many of these confusing medical terms, and, in order to support your child or teen through his or her challenges with ADHD, it is not necessary to understand all of the science behind how ADHD works. What is important is to understand that there is a biological cause to your child or teen’s behaviors and that they will need extra support, guidance, and understanding from you and their teachers. Before a child or teen is diagnosed, frustration, blame, and anger may have built up within a family. You and your child or teen may need special help to overcome some of these bad feelings.
Sources: National Institute of Mental Health, Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists, 7th edition, Preston, O’Neal, and Talaga.