Industry leaders in improving attention. |
|
For more information call (800) 788 - 6786 or request
a |
Are There Different Levels of ADHD?
There are definitely different levels of severity of ADHD. For some children, even though they meet the criteria for the diagnosis, their symptoms are relatively mild. Other children , in contrast, display symptoms of much greater intensity and are significantly more difficult to manage.
It is also important to recognize that the severity of a child's symptoms can vary significantly over time, and even at the same point in time across different settings. Thus, some children experience a diminishing of their symptoms as they grow older - many times to the point where the symptoms no longer cause significant impairment and the child - who may now be a teen or young adult - no longer would be diagnosed with ADHD. (At this point, it is not possible to predict, as far as I know, who this will occur for and who it will not.)
A child's symptoms can also show varying levels of severity across different settings. For example, it is not uncommon for a child's symptoms to be much more evident and impairing at school then they are at home. Even within the school setting, a child's symptoms can even be more severe with one teacher than another because of differences in how the two classrooms may be structured and differences in teaching style. This is why it is so important for parents to work hard to try and make sure their child gets a teacher each year who works well with children who have ADHD. In my own experience, I have seen many times what an enormous difference having the right teacher can make for the success of a child's school year.
In relation to whether behavioral treatments are appropriate for children with "mild" case of ADHD only, I am not aware of any studies that have looked specifically at the success rate for behavioral treatments in relation to the severity of a child's symptoms. I believe the general view among the medical and mental health professions is that the more severe a child's symptoms, the more likely it is that medication will need to be a part of the child's treatment. Of course, the more severe a child's symptoms, the more likely it is that other forms of intervention - including behavioral treatments - will play an important role in the child's overall treatment plan.
Note: This article originally appeared in Attention Research Update, an online newsletter written by Dr. David Rabiner, a Duke University psychologist and former member of CHADD's Professional Advisory Board. You can learn more about Attention Research Update and sign up for a free subscription at www.helpforadd.com.