ADHD & Pervasive Disorders in Children

In recent years there has been a significant increase in the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Additionally, medical professionals have noted a rise in autism and Asperger's syndrome in children, which are conditions that are considered pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). One of the difficulties with the increase in diagnoses of these disorders is that, very often, children are being diagnosed with ADHD when they have PDD.

Facts

• According to the University of Virginia Health Systems, PDD is usually identified by the age of 3 years old and is more dominantly found in boys.

Similarities

• Both ADHD and PDD have the following symptoms in common: intense temper tantrums; inappropriate verbal behavior; lacking acceptance of affection; impulsivity; and careless mistakes with academic work.

Differences

• The most striking differences are that with PDD there is minimal eye contact and sometimes there is extreme under activity. Neither of those symptoms is common to children with ADHD.

Significance

• Distinguishing ADHD from PDD allows for different and more focused treatments, which increases the chances for success.

Misconceptions

• The most notable misconception on this topic is that children with PDD automatically have ADHD. This is not the case, as they are separately defined conditions with individual diagnoses.