MEDICAL SURFARI: ADHD DATA FOUND ON WEB

Not a day passes without encountering someone that displays inattention, impulsivity or hyperactivity, but when these behaviors are observed in children, and when they clearly interfere developmentally, they may be a sign of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This condition has been given a variety of names that have attempted to frame the constellation of behaviors. ADHD has been described as hyperkinesis, hyperactivity, minimal brain damage, and minimal brain dysfunction. It was not until the late 1970s that the American Psychiatric Association coined the term attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and defined it as "persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity or impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development."

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder of childhood and has been estimated to affect 3 percent to 5 percent of schoolchildren. Children with ADHD have trouble sitting still and paying attention in class, and their behaviors are often quite disruptive. The developmentally inappropriate level of attention, concentration, activity, distractibility and impulsivity lead to functional impairment at home, at school, and in peer relationships. This may cause long-term problems in school, work, and social situations. As these children grow older and remain untreated they may develop other conduct disorders and experience drug abuse, anti-social behavior and even physical injury.

Signs of inattentiveness include poor listening skills, forgetfulness, easy distractibility, and incompletion of activities, as well as difficulty focusing on any one task for a sustained period. These children also often demonstrate failure to follow instructions accurately and completely. The signs of impulsivity include frequent interruption, shouting out answers before a question has been completed, and difficulty taking turns while playing or when waiting is required. Signs of hyperactivity include wiggling, fidgeting, constant talking, and seemingly endless energy.

WORLD WIDE WEB RESOURCES

Diagnosis and Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

www.odp.od.nih.gov/consensus

This Web site provided by the National Institutes of Health discusses diagnosing and treating people with attention deficit disorder.

What are the Symptoms of ADHD?

www.nimh.nih/gov/publicat/adhd.cfm

This Web site provided by the National Institutes of Mental Health discusses the symptoms of ADHD and specific treatments. This site also provides information on support groups available.

Diagnosis and Evaluation of the Child With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

www.aap.org/policy/ac0002.html

This Web site provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics discusses the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of children with ADHD. This site also provides specific criteria for diagnosing ADHD.

Dr. Scott Gibbs is a Cape Girardeau neurosurgeon and editor-in-chief of Mosby's Medical Surfari.