![]() ![]() In 2003, 7% of children in the US, and 9% of children in Georgia, were diagnosed with ADHD. ![]() Being able to identify the specific source or cause of symptoms is therefore not always possible, and will vary from one person to the next.ĪDHD is extremely common, with the percentage of children affected rising every year. As such, it’s important to note that ADHD is a spectrum of attention problems that can have many different sources and causes. Many other things can contribute to attention deficit problems, including head injuries, other illnesses, and even chemotherapy treatment. Unhealthy dietary patterns, including high intake of refined sugar or saturated fat, may also increase the risk of ADHD, and sleep problems have also been shown to contribute to attention issues. Additionally, the DSM-III mentions lead as a causative factor toward ADHD, with studies showing that lead exposure leads to ADHD symptoms. For example, it is believed that genetic factors play a role. The causes of ADHD are not entirely known, although there are some factors that are linked to it. It can also lead to behavioral problems, as hyperactive children may become restless and have difficulty controlling their behavior, especially when they are required to sit still and keep quiet for extended periods of time throughout the school day. ![]() With children, it can lead to difficulties in school, as they may struggle to pay attention in the classroom, or to focus on completing a homework assignment. ADHD can interfere with all aspects of life. It is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders found in children, and usually continues into adulthood. These are hard conversations to have, but they are important ones: they can make all the difference when it comes to getting a child the help he or she really needs.įor more information on autism and how to recognize it, check out the Act Early page on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a very common brain-based disorder that affects the abilities to pay attention and control impulsive behavior. So before settling on a diagnosis of ADHD, especially in a young child, parents should talk with their doctor about whether doing more testing would be a good idea. Children with learning disabilities, sleep disorders, hearing loss, and other problems are often misdiagnosed with ADHD. Given this, and given that most parents would rather hear that their child has ADHD than that he or she has autism, and therefore not push for further testing, it’s understandable how this happens.Īutism isn’t the only diagnosis that can look like ADHD. And given that the social aspects of autism may not be obvious before a child starts school, parents may not realize that their child has trouble socializing with others - and may not report it to the pediatrician. It takes special training, and it takes time, something the average busy pediatrician doesn’t have. ![]() It isn’t always easy for general pediatricians to diagnose autism in young children. So to have the diagnosis delayed by three years - and delayed past those crucial early years - is a real tragedy. Every year the diagnosis is delayed is a year a child isn’t getting help - which can have lifelong ramifications. While autism can be diagnosed as early as age 24 months, the median age for diagnosis is over 4 years. Why does this matter? While there is a lot we don’t know about autism, one thing we do know is that the earlier treatment starts, the better the child does in the long run. They found that those who got an ADHD diagnosis before they got an autism diagnosis were diagnosed with autism an average of 3 years later than those who got the autism diagnosis first - and were 30 times more likely to get the autism diagnosis when they were 6 years old or older. In a study just published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers looked at about 1,500 children between the ages of 2 and 17 who had a current diagnosis of autism (as reported by their parents). In fact, it can be hard to tell the difference between the two.īut telling the difference is very important. Children with either one can be very active and impulsive, and can have trouble focusing and interacting with other people. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.Īttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism can look a lot alike. Please note the date each article was posted or last reviewed. ARCHIVED CONTENT: As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. ![]()
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