Parents understandably become concerned when their children do poorly at school.  It is not uncommon for such problems to be attributed to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a condition becoming increasingly recognized in the general pediatric population.  According to the U.S. government’s Center for Disease Control, the estimated percentage of children having ADHD in 2003 was 4.4% of the general population, but by 2016 this estimate had risen to approximately 6% nationwide, and to approximately 12% in the state of Georgia.  Oftentimes, parents think initiating treatment for ADHD will solve their children’s problems at school.  While it is true that ADHD affects learning, ADHD may not be the only cause of poor performance at school.  Parents must understand that ADHD can cause learning difficulty but it is not a learning disability (LD). In fact, ADHD and LD often co-exist.  

What is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?

Symptoms of ADHD include hyperactivity, impulsivity, and/or inattention.  It may affect cognitive, academic, behavioral, emotional, and social functioning.  It is generally diagnosed by primary care physicians, psychiatrists, or psychologists using specific tests designed to assess children’s symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention.  Treatment may consist of behavioral interventions such as modifications in the physical and social environment and use of appropriate medications.  Psychological interventions may be used when there are coexisting conditions such as depression, anxiety, or learning disabilities.  

What is learning  disability (LD)?

Learning disabilities are a group of disorders characterized by the unexpected failure of an individual to acquire, retrieve, and use information competently.  The symptoms include failure to acquire reading, writing, or math skills at grade- and age-expected levels.  

LDs can occur in children with normal IQ due to lack of specific skills required to learn.  One study recently showed that between 30 and 50 percent of the children who are diagnosed with ADHD also have a learning disability.  

School system experts or medical specialists can obtain a comprehensive evaluation of the suspected disability including intellectual ability, academic achievement, speech or language skills, need for occupational or physical therapy assessment, and psychologic evaluation.  Early diagnosis of LD is important for the optimization of learning and the prevention of secondary emotional problems.  If a child is diagnosed with a LD, parents should insure their primary care physician is made aware of the situation and is involved in appropriate care.

Is your child not doing so well despite treatment?

It is not uncommon for family physicians to see children not performing well even after diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, especially when there is co-existing LDs.

Consult your primary care physician for help with continuing care, which may include counseling, mediating between the family and the school system, or serving as an information resource for the school system.