ADHD is a disorder that can co-exist to a greater or lesser degree, with any or other disorders such as depression, anxiety, mania, autism, learning disorders (dyslexia and dyscalculia being the most common), dyspraxia, conduct disorder, oppositional defiance disorder, sleep disorders and Tourette’s Syndrome.
During a clinical assessment, one or more of these disorders may be identified. It’s important that the correct support is attained for these symptoms.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
The most notable figure of ODD is the hostility shown to authority figures. This results in argumentative behaviour and an inflexible persistence with requests. The child has difficulty with compromise and tends to engage in insistent whining until the request is granted. Then, of course, he/she begins immediately with the next “request”. Other qualities include a failure to take responsibility for behaviour, a tendency to blame others, disobedience, resentment and over-sensitivity to correction.
Learning Disorders
- Dyslexia – An individual is identified as dyslexic when a significant discrepancy exists between intellectual ability and reading/comprehension performance, without an apparent physical, emotional or cultural cause. Dyslexia Ireland are an organisation who can offer further support.
- Dyscalculia – This is recognised by a deficit in skills of counting and calculating; difficulties in comprehension of instructions, or failure to master skills required for a task or the inability to use or understand symbols or numbers.
- Dyspraxia – This is an impairment, or an immaturity of the organisation of movement.
Areas of difficulty include:- Body movement – large movements, such as walking; balance, fine movement such as writing, using a sellotape dispenser etc
- Speech and language – talking continuously or slowly and ponderously; repeating themselves; difficulty with pronunciation
- Visual problems – difficulties with tracking text when reading or looking quickly at information
- Perceptual difficulties – interpretation by different senses, problems with organisation, memory, sequencing, concentration and time management
A heightened sensitivity to sound, light, touch or certain fabrics. Difficulty in coping in a noisy environment or working in brightly lit areas.
Contact Dyspraxia Ireland for more information and support on Dyspraxia.
Asperger’s Syndrome
Symptoms include:
- Social isolation and eccentric behaviour in childhood;
- Impairments in two-sided social interaction and non-verbal communication
- Abnormalities of inflection and a repetitive pattern in speech
- Narrow or restricted interests e.g trains, door knobs, cappuccino…
Visit Aspire Ireland for more information
Conduct Disorder (CD)
Conduct Disorder is considered the most disquieting of co-existing conditions because of the violations of accepted social norms. Behaviours such as deceit, dishonesty and serious infractions of rules may occur. The child may engage in willful aggression such as bullying, verbal abuse, physical fighting or sexual violation. Aggression may also be directed at property in the form of damage to property, breaking and entering, theft, or vandalism.
Other useful organisations/groups: