Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, causes inattentive, hyperactive or impulsive behaviors in children that may continue into adulthood. Inattentive symptoms include being easily distracted, having difficulty focusing or completing tasks and struggling to follow instructions. Children may fidget often, talk nonstop or appear constantly in motion during the hyperactive phase. They can exhibit impulsive symptoms such as being impatient or interrupting others. Some children with ADHD have other disabilities, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Learning Disability
Preschoolers may have difficulty understanding certain words or sounds. They often cannot express themselves properly using words because of learning difficulties. Children in school struggle over reading, spelling, writing and more complex subjects, such as math. Up to half of children with ADHD may have co-existing learning disabilities, according to the National Resource Center on AD/HD. The children are not less intelligent than their peers, but the learning disability adds to the difficulties of ADHD when it comes to schoolwork.
Mental Illness
Some children with ADHD also suffer from anxiety or depression. Treatment of ADHD may help reduce anxiety or depressive symptoms, the National Institute of Mental Health points out. In other cases, treating anxiety conditions helps children deal with their ADHD condition. ADHD patients may also have bipolar disorder, a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings. Children may go through periods of being overly enthusiastic and active to phases of being deeply depressed, saddened and withdrawn. Both ADHD and bipolar disorder cause children to become inattentive and easily distracted, which makes it difficult to distinguish between the two disabilities.
Conduct Disabilities
Children who become rebellious or stubborn may have oppositional defiant disorder, or ODD. They may exhibit patterns of negativity, defiance and hostility, especially toward authority. They may have frequent temper tantrums, refuse to obey rules or repeatedly argue with parents and other adults. As many as half of all children with ADHD have ODD, according to MayoClinic.com. It occurs more often in boys than girls.
Delinquent behavior may indicate conduct disorder, a more severe form of ODD. Children with this condition may lie, steal, become violent or bully other children. They may harm people or animals. Some of these children often find trouble with authorities. Conduct disorder may include such acts as vandalism or burglary. Many children who show ODD signs at an early age later develop conduct disorder, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- National Resource Center on AD/HD: AD/HD and Coexisting Disorders (WWK 5)
- MayoClinic.com: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children-Complications
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Other Disorders Associated with ADHD
