ADHD Disorders, Article Review Example

A 2011 article by Larson and colleagues (462) examines several factors as they relate to US children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), including comorbid conditions, level of functioning, and use of available services. The research described in this piece utilized data from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health, which included over 60000 subjects between the ages of 6 and 16 years old. Slightly more than 8% of the children had ADHD at the time of the survey, as reported by parents. Using a cross-sectional design, the information was evaluated for indicators of each variable through bivariate and multivariate statistics. The results indicate that there is a higher prevalence of learning disabilities, conduct disorders, anxiety, depression, and problems with speech among children with ADHD. The risk of having multiple comorbid disorders is higher in the poor, and functioning systematically decreases with the addition of new co-afflictions.

The authors conclude that these results demonstrate a need to manage ADHD from multiple angles that address functional, social, and comorbid concerns in addition to the disorder itself. This approach requires integration between education, social services, mental health services, social systems, and families. As a professional, I believe these are important points to consider, as they may substantially improve the learning experience for students with ADHD. Additionally, the consistent awareness that each person must be treated as an specific case with unique needs is also required to optimize education and life for those with ADH.

Work Cited

Larson, Kandyce, et al. “Patterns of comorbidity, functioning, and service use for US children with ADHD, 2007.” Pediatrics 127.3 (2011): 462-470.