Up to 6 per cent of children suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Attention Deficit Disorder, according to a consultant child psychiatrist specialising in the area.
It is only in recent years that children have been correctly diagnosed as having the problem and that the incidence of ADHD and associated conditions has been given any attention by the media, says Dr Tom Moran, who works with the South Western Area Health Board, in Dublin, and the National Children's Hospital in Tallaght.
"Twenty years ago there was quite a resistance to making a diagnosis. People were very uncertain about attending child psychiatric services, there was a question of suspicion of the services, of the child being labelled and also uncertainty about using medication to modify a child's behaviour," Dr Moran explains.
Controlling the behaviour of children with ADHD and providing them with the support they need requires more than just confirming the diagnosis. He stresses that an inter-agency and multi-levelled approach is required in addressing the special needs of such children. "The children may also meet the criteria for other disorders," he explains. For example they will be at a greater disposition to having dyslexia as well. There is a need for the education system to acknowledge these children have particular difficulties and to create an environment in which they can learn." If they are in school every day and it is of no interest to them then how does that impact on their self-esteem? The school may be reinforcing that `label' they have been given."
He believes it is important to include the individual child's pre-disposition as well as his/her environmental surroundings in addressing needs. The medication can assist the child in focusing on things and being more able to participate in what is being provided for his/her education. "This is not just in the remit of children's mental health, it involves the Department of Education and very much requires an inter-agency approach. I must emphasis the need for the different systems and agencies to recognise their different contributions and I would plead with the Department of Education to recognise these children's disabilities; the starting point is acknowledging that these children exist."
Dr Moran believes that a failure to do this can lead to children opting out of, or being excluded from, a proper education and being more vulnerable to being drawn into criminal behaviour. North American studies have indicated that up to 80 per cent of people in young offenders' institutions/substance abuse programmes may have untreated ADHD with complications such as conduct disorder, manic depression and learning difficulties.
Excuses or Explanations? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Related Conditions - Their importance to childcare professionals and those involved in youth justice is the theme of a one-day conference to be held in Moran's Red Cow Hotel, Naas Road, Dublin on Saturday May 26th. All bookings and in- quiries to Clara Clark, tel: 01-2898533; e- mail: cclark@indigo.ie. Website: www.claraclark.ie