Comorbidity of ADHD sometimes accompanies by specific learning disabilities (20-30%), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (1/3-1/2, mostly boys), conduct disorder (20-40%), anxiety, or depression. Some people with ADHD have been seen with a neurological disorder called Tourette syndrome. Bipolar disorder is yet another condition that can be difficult to distinguish from ADHD.
Learning disabilities (LD) include difficulty understanding certain sounds or words and/or difficulty in expressing oneself in words. The common disorders of children with school-age are reading or spelling disabilities, writing disorders, and arithmetic disorders.
Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by various nervous tics and repetitive mannerisms, such as eye blinks, facial twitches, or grimacing. Some victims clear their throats frequently, snort, sniff, or bark. While very few children have this syndrome, many cases of Tourette syndrome have been associated with ADHD.
Both disorders (Learning disabilities and Tourette syndrome) often require treatment that may include medications.
As their names imply, oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder are characterized by various anti-social behaviors.
Anxiety or depression sometimes happens as co-occurring disorders in ADHD children. As you might expect, treating any of these conditions tends to ameliorate the others.
There are no accurate statistics on how many children with ADHD also have bipolar disorder, which may produce similar symptoms.
Treatment for Comorbidity of ADHD
Treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder can be challenging, involving medications, psychological treatment, nutrition, and lifestyle changes.
Many parents also consult school district personnel, not just health care professionals. Given some school districts’ extraordinary incompetence and corruption, they may be a hindrance rather than an aid.
For disorders that Sometimes Accompany ADHD may have no single treatment is the answer for every individual. Certain medications may produce undesirable side effects in some patients.
Adults may require different medications or doses than children. Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can also be complicated by other illnesses, some of which produce similar symptoms. Parents of children with ADHD will not want to limit their research to a single article, no matter how thoroughly.
The results of a study conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health (the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) indicate that long-term combination treatments (medication and behavioral therapy) and medication management alone are superior to intensive behavioral treatment and routine community treatment.
In routine community care, the children saw a community-treatment doctor, who didn’t interact with the teachers twice a year for short periods.
Sometimes mutual therapy is most effective for children with comorbidity of ADHD, like anxiety, academic performance, oppositionality, parent-child relations, and social skills.
Medication for Comorbidity of ADHD
Medications don’t cure Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; they only control the symptoms on the day they are taken. Stimulant drugs are usually considered quite safe when used with medical supervision. However, remember that the people who complain the loudest aren’t necessarily medical experts.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a medication for ADHD—Strattera®, or atomization—not a stimulant.
A new biological diagnosis for AD/HD announced in January 2005 may also predict how patients are likely to respond to drugs.
Beyond Medicine for Comorbidity of ADHD
Behavioral therapy, emotional counseling, and practical support help ADHD children cope with everyday problems and feel better about themselves. Mental health professionals can counsel children and their families alike, helping them develop new skills, attitudes, and ways of relating to each other.
Public Schools: Friend or Foe?
Children with ADHD may qualify for special education, but this can be a two-edged sword. Many public schools can be likened to dysfunctional families themselves, and it’s possible that your child’s teacher could be taking anti-depressants.
Long Term Outlook
About 80 percent of teenagers with ADHD require medication. Over 50 percent need medication as adults. Several studies done in recent years estimate that 30-70 percent of children with ADHD continue to exhibit symptoms as adults.
Recommended Book: Thriving with ADHD Workbook for Teens: Improve Focus, Get Organized, and Succeed