What are the Characteristics of ADHD and ADD in Persons with Fragile X Syndrome?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurologically based condition that causes difficulties in the abilities to: focus and maintain attention, control impulsivity, remain focused and not distracted, and control the urge to move about and be physically active. Children may have a combination of difficulties in attention, impulse control, distractibility, and hyperactivity. If the element of hyperactivity is not present, the child or adult may have attention deficit disorder (ADD). A very high percentage of boys with fragile X syndrome (80-90%) are thought to meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. For girls with fragile X, the percentage is lower (35-47%), but still significant. ADHD and ADD are not diagnosed by direct neurological tests, but by checklists and observations, or sometimes by computerized measures of impulse control. Pediatricians or pediatric neurologists may ask parents and teachers to fill out checklists or rating scales, which are designed to evaluate t
