LD Blog

Dr. Judith Guedalia of Shaare Zedek Medical Center of Jerusalem, Israel, described multiple associated problems when discussing ADHD in an article that appeared in the Jewish Press (corporate office in Brooklyn, NY, US).

One of the difficulties in diagnosing ADHD is that it is often accompanied by other problems. For example, many children with ADHD also have a specific learning disability (LD). ADHD is not, in itself, a specific learning disability, but because it can interfere with concentration and attention, ADHD can make it doubly hard for a child with LD to do well in school.

A very small proportion of people with ADHD have a rare disorder called Tourette`s Syndrome. People with Tourette`s have tics and other movements like eye blinks or facial twitches that they can`t control. Others may grimace, shrug, sniff, or bark out words. Fortunately, these behaviors can be controlled with medication (but not the same as those for ADHD).

Nearly half of all children with ADHD (mostly boys, but girls, too) have a condition called oppositional defiant disorder and may overreact, have outbursts of temper or lash out when they feel bad. Children with this combination of problems are at risk of getting in trouble at school or even with the police. They may take unsafe risks or even break laws by stealing, setting fires, destroying property or driving recklessly. It`s important that they receive help before the behaviors lead to more serious problems.

Emotional disorders and attention disorders often go hand in hand, so children with ADHD should be checked for anxiety and depression. Many children with ADHD — especially younger children and boys — experience emotional disorders such as anxiety, depression, worry, tension or uneasiness. This can affect their thinking and behavior. These can be treated, and helping children handle such painful feelings will help them cope with the effects of ADHD.

Link to the full article