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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: What Every Parent Should Know

Summary & Participants

Almost everyone has heard about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). But few people understand what the term really means, or realize how many children and adults may have it. What are the supposed causes and symptoms of ADHD? How is it diagnosed? Join our panel of experts as they address these questions and more.

Medically Reviewed On: June 23, 2008

Webcast Transcript

DR. PATRICIA QUINN: A low estimate would probably be 2-4% of the population. If you look at attention deficit in general, from various causes, not ADHD, you can see numbers as high as 16-20% of the population. But if we are conservative and use the diagnostic criteria that we have for diagnosing the disorder that Dr. Jensen referred to, it's probably about 2-4%.

LISA CLARK: And I understand that boys are more prone to ADHD than girls. Why is that?

DR. PETER JENSEN: Well, I think that we know across all mammalian species that males of the species tend to be more active, per se. There's more motor behavior. And there's probably many, many reasons for that. But that normal activity shouldn't be confused with ADHD, per se. But when you have a high amount of that activity, it does mean you are more likely to be identified with a condition. So because the males tend to have more of the motor behaviors, motor activity, they get more easily identified, probably at some disservice to the girls, I should point out. And Dr. Quinn could probably tell you about that.

DR. PATRICIA QUINN: Absolutely. One of the things we're finding, with the understanding that there could be an inattentive type of the disorder, where the children or adults are more hypoactive, more inattentive, trying to stay in the background, is that they actually may appear shy and withdrawn. When we started seeing the inattentive type and documenting that and finding it in boys, we found sitting right next to them was a little girl who also had inattentive type ADHD. And they don't call attention to themselves as the boys do, so people don't pick it up as readily. That's why we're not seeing it. But it certainly does impair their functioning, leading to a lot of self-esteem issues and a lot of more problems.

LISA CLARK: Since early intervention is critical with this, as with so many other things—early treatment helps a child learn to adapt to this situation and to be able to learn well and function well—what should parents and teachers be looking for om their child?

DR. PETER JENSEN: Well I think the teachers have to be very aware. And they usually are pretty good at this, of finding the children whose hyperactive symptoms or inattentive or distractible symptoms, are interfering with their functioning, actually causing them problems in getting on and getting by. Now if it's a girl, for example, or even a boy who's inattentive only, he or shemay not get picked up because he's not necessarily causing problems. But it may be a problem for that child if he or she isnot doing well in school and is suffering because of peer relationships or has other symptoms as well. And so a high level of awareness or recognition that, in addition to the hyperactive symptoms,we have to be on the look out for some of these other inattentive, less noticeable symptoms.

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