Study Confirms ADHD Is More Common in Boys
Parental Education Level Also Associated With Risk
University of California, San Diego pediatrics professor Martin Stein, MD, says it has become clear over the last decade or so that ADHD is a biological disorder that is influenced by environmental factors.
"We know that ADHD runs in families, with 40% or 50% of children with ADHD having a parent or other close relative with it, too," he tells WebMD. "But that being said, the way a child's family, school, and community respond to symptoms will have an impact on how the condition manifests."
A spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics, Stein says the organization's guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, published within the last few years, should help clinicians and parents better identify the condition. The AAP web site has the most up-to-date information for parents on the disorder.
"ADHD is not something that can be easily diagnosed in a 15- to 20-minute pediatric visit," he says. "An accurate assessment should include interviews with the parent and child and some information from a teacher, usually in the form of a written narrative. It should take at least two or three visits to make an accurate diagnosis."
Study Confirms ADHD Is More Common in Boys
Parental Education Level Also Associated With Risk
Diagnosis Isn't Simple
University of California, San Diego pediatrics professor Martin Stein, MD, says it has become clear over the last decade or so that ADHD is a biological disorder that is influenced by environmental factors.
"We know that ADHD runs in families, with 40% or 50% of children with ADHD having a parent or other close relative with it, too," he tells WebMD. "But that being said, the way a child's family, school, and community respond to symptoms will have an impact on how the condition manifests."
A spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics, Stein says the organization's guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, published within the last few years, should help clinicians and parents better identify the condition. The AAP web site has the most up-to-date information for parents on the disorder.
"ADHD is not something that can be easily diagnosed in a 15- to 20-minute pediatric visit," he says. "An accurate assessment should include interviews with the parent and child and some information from a teacher, usually in the form of a written narrative. It should take at least two or three visits to make an accurate diagnosis."
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