Hi, this is Tom, and in this episode I'm going to be going through attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD.

And you can find notes at zero to finals.com slash ADHD and in the zero to finals pediatrics book.

And you can find flashcards and questions at members.0.0.finals.com.

So let's jump straight in.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder

with the core features of inattention, meaning difficulty maintaining attention,

hyperactivity, meaning excessive energy and activity, and impulsivity, meaning difficulty controlling

impulses. ADHD is thought to result from a combination of factors, including genetic factors

and their significant heritability, meaning that if a parent is affected, a child is more likely to

be affected, pregnancy-related factors, for example, maternal smoking, premature birth and low birth weight, and environmental factors.

The symptoms of ADHD start in childhood and should be consistent across multiple settings.

For example, if the child displays symptoms only at school but is calm and focused at home, this may

suggest an environmental effect rather than an underlying diagnosis.

Let's talk about the features. All the features of ADHD can be part of a normal spectrum of

behaviour. When many of these features are present and are

adversely affecting the person, then ADHD may be considered. Symptoms include a short attention

span, being easily distracted, quickly moving from one activity to another, quickly losing interest in a task,

an inability to persist with and complete tasks, constantly moving or fidgeting,

impulsive behavior, and difficulty managing time. Let's talk about management. A specialist will make the

diagnosis after a detailed assessment. Management strategies for parents include a positive

approach to parenting, structured routines, clear boundaries and plenty of physical activity.

Medication is an option for moderate to severe ADHD.

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