Learning Disabilities.
Many children with ADHD—approximately 20 to 30 percent—also have a specific
learning disability (LD).10 In preschool years, these disabilities include
difficulty in understanding certain sounds or words and/or difficulty in
expressing oneself in words. In school age children, reading or spelling
disabilities, writing disorders, and arithmetic disorders may appear. A type of
reading disorder, dyslexia, is quite widespread. Reading disabilities affect up
to 8 percent of elementary school children.
Tourette Syndrome.
A very small proportion of people with ADHD have a neurological disorder called
Tourette syndrome. People with Tourette syndrome have various nervous tics and
repetitive mannerisms, such as eye blinks, facial twitches, or grimacing. Others
may clear their throats frequently, snort, sniff, or bark out words. These
behaviors can be controlled with medication. While very few children have this
syndrome, many of the cases of Tourette syndrome have associated ADHD. In such
cases, both disorders often require treatment that may include medications.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder.
As many as one-third to one-half of all children with ADHD—mostly boys—have
another condition, known as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). These children
are often defiant, stubborn, non-compliant, have outbursts of temper, or become
belligerent. They argue with adults and refuse to obey.
Conduct Disorder.
About 20 to 40 percent of ADHD children may eventually develop conduct disorder
(CD), a more serious pattern of antisocial behavior. These children frequently
lie or steal, fight with or bully others, and are at a real risk of getting into
trouble at school or with the police. They violate the basic rights of other
people, are aggressive toward people and/or animals, destroy property, break
into people's homes, commit thefts, carry or use weapons, or engage in
vandalism. These children or teens are at greater risk for substance use
experimentation, and later dependence and abuse. They need immediate help.
Anxiety and Depression.
Some children with ADHD often have co-occurring anxiety or depression. If the
anxiety or depression is recognized and treated, the child will be better able
to handle the problems that accompany ADHD. Conversely, effective treatment of
ADHD can have a positive impact on anxiety as the child is better able to master
academic tasks.
Bipolar Disorder.
There are no accurate statistics on how many children with ADHD also have
bipolar disorder. Differentiating between ADHD and bipolar disorder in childhood
can be difficult. In its classic form, bipolar disorder is characterized by mood
cycling between periods of intense highs and lows. But in children, bipolar
disorder often seems to be a rather chronic mood dysregulation with a mixture of
elation, depression, and irritability. Furthermore, there are some symptoms that
can be present both in ADHD and bipolar disorder, such as a high level of energy
and a reduced need for sleep. Of the symptoms differentiating children with ADHD
from those with bipolar disorder, elated mood and grandiosity of the bipolar
child are distinguishing characteristics.11
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