Does attention deficit disorder occur in adults?
Based in our current terminology, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is estimated to occur in 3-5% of school-age children. There is limited data on the prevalence in adolescence and adulthood, but with some consensus that approximately 33% of those diagnosed in childhood will have symptoms that persist into adolescence, and 33% of that group will have symptoms that persist into adulthood. However, as research in brain functioning continues to expand our knowledge in understanding and treating emotional and behavioral problems, there is a movement toward treating symptoms and neurological pathways. Attention, motor activity and impulse control can be problems in various spectrums of dysregulation. A “reverse attention deficit disorder” may be a sign of our times – a recent study completed at the University of London found that constant distractions (ringing phones, pagers, incoming emails) can cause temporary drops in IQ functioning of up to 10 points. Effects on concentrat
