ADHD is a neurobiological condition that affects one's academic learning and social behavioural development in varying degrees of severity. About 5 to 8 per cent of children and young people, and 2 to 3 per cent of adults have it. Increased awareness of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, has led to more new cases being identified in recent years, but misconceptions about it persist .
ADHD can also occur with other problems such as anxiety and learning difficulties such as dyslexia, which tend to affect structured learning and its outcome. This then catches the parents and teachers' attention, said Prof Wong.
ADHD is the top mental health condition seen at IMH's Child Guidance Clinic. From 2012 to last year, the clinic saw an average of 645 new cases with ADHD a year.
Adjunct Associate Professor Ong Say How, chief and senior consultant at IMH's department of child and adolescent psychiatry, described an ADHD child as one who is often disorganised, forgetful and lacking the ability to focus or obey instructions. He behaves impulsively and is constantly restless.
Some people think the ADHD child will outgrow it. But the symptoms often persist into adulthood.
Dr Lim said: "It is common for ADHD symptoms to be misconstrued as "naughty" behaviour. Even after diagnosis, parents and teachers often need plenty of convincing before realising the symptoms are not wilful or deliberate."
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Category(s):Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Source material from Straits Times
