Mark Faber, M.D., Upper Montclair

Psych MD, Pediatric/Adult Psychiatry

July 2010

ADHD Part 1

1.     What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

2.     My child is not hyperactive – can they have ADHD?

Yes.  There is a form of ADHD called the Inattentive Only Type, seen more often in girls than boys.

3.     When is ADHD diagnosed?

Usually in childhood.  Symptoms are seen before the age of seven but kids may compensate for their symptoms and not have school difficulties until middle school.

4.     I’m kind of distracted, impatient, and I multitask.  Can I have ADHD like my child does?

Yes.  The chances that one parent of a child with ADHD has it themselves is 50 percent.  Hyperactivity decreases with age, impulsivity shifts to impatience, and difficulty sustaining attention often continues into adulthood. 

5.     Just how many kids/adults have ADHD?

6 to 8 percent of children and 4 percent of adults have ADHD.

6.      Will my child grow out of ADHD?

If three children in kindergarten have ADHD, two of the three will have ADHD by senior year of high school.

7.     How is it treated?

Stay tuned in for ADHD2 – Next Issue