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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffADHD can make life difficult for children. Children with ADHD:
- Often struggle in the classroom, which can lead to academic failure and judgment by other children and adults
- Tend to have more accidents and injuries of all kinds than do children who don't have the disorder
- Are more likely to have trouble interacting with peers and adults
- Are at increased risk of alcohol and drug abuse and other delinquent behavior
Coexisting conditions
ADHD doesn't cause other psychological or developmental problems. However, children with ADHD are more likely than other children to also have conditions such as:
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Generally defined as a pattern of negative, defiant and hostile behavior toward authority figures, ODD occurs in as many as half of all children with ADHD. This condition is more common in boys than it is in girls.
- Conduct disorder. A more serious condition than ODD, conduct disorder is marked by antisocial behavior such as stealing, fighting, destroying property and harming people or animals. This condition is much less prevalent than ODD.
- Depression. Depression frequently occurs in children with ADHD.
- Anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders tend to occur fairly often in children with ADHD and may cause overwhelming worry and nervousness and other symptoms. Once anxiety is treated and is under control, children are better able to deal with ADHD.
- Learning disabilities. Learning disabilities are common in children with ADHD. However, gifted learners also get ADHD more often than do other children. Children with both ADHD and learning disabilities may need extra attention in the classroom or special education services.
- Tourette syndrome. Many children with ADHD also have Tourette syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by compulsive muscular or vocal tics.
References
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Jan. 21, 2009.
- Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov. Accessed Jan. 21, 2009.
- Plizska S. Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology. 2007;46:894.
- Vitiello B. Understanding the risk of using medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with respect to physical growth and cardiovascular function. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2008;17:459.
- Perrin JM. Cardiovascular monitoring and stimulant drugs for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Pediatrics 2008;122:451.
- Overview of Section 504. Council of Educators for Students with Disabilities. http://www.504idea.org/504overview.html. Accessed Jan. 26, 2009.
- Weber W, et al. Complementary and alternative medical therapies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2007;54:983.
- Jensen PS, et al. The effects of yoga on the attention and behavior of boys with ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders. 2004;7:205.
- Peck HL, et al. Yoga as an intervention for children with attention problems. School Psychology Reviews. 2005;34:415.
