From the American Academy of Adolescent Psychiatry
“Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in adolescents, and the rate for such deaths is four times higher for adolescent drivers with ADHD,” Cox told Reuters Health. “The key ADHD-related problem that interferes with safe driving is inattention. However, when treated with stimulant therapy, adolescents with ADHD drive as well as those without this condition.” He is a professor of psychiatric medicine at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
“JUST THE FACTS…………………. DIAGNOSING ADHD
Between 4 and 12 percent of all school-age children may have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) making it the most common childhood neurobehavioral disorder.
All effective treatment must begin with an accurate well-established diagnosis. That’s why the AAP has released new standardized diagnostic guidelines for primary care physicians.
The guidelines are designed for children ages 6 to 12. Diagnosis of hyperactivity and ADHD in children age 5 and younger is unreliable, because children change so rapidly during the pre-school years.
The diagnosis guidelines recommend that ADHD evaluations be initiated for children who are experiencing the following:
* school difficulties
* academic underachievement
* troublesome interpersonal relationships with family members and peers
* and/or low self-esteem
Parents can provide the pediatrician with valuable information about their child’s school and behavioral issues. Pediatricians can get that information by speaking directly with parents, or by asking parents to fill out a pre-visit questionnaire.
In diagnosing ADHD, pediatricians should use DSM-IV criteria developed by the American Psychiatric Association. These guidelines require that ADHD symptoms be present in two or more of a child’s settings. For example, a child must show symptoms at both school and home. Also, the symptoms must adversely affect both the child’s academic and social functioning in order to be diagnosed as ADHD.
Evaluation of a child with ADHD should also include a thorough assessment for co-existing conditions. Those condition include:
* conduct disorder
* oppositional defiant disorder
* mood disorder and depression
* anxiety
* and learning disabilities
This is important because as many as one-third of children diagnosed with ADHD also have a co-existing condition.
ADHD treatment guidelines are in development.
© 2003 - American Academy of Pediatrics “
http://www.aap.org/mrt/factsda.htm