The Elisabeth d'Ornano Association for ADHD

Abstract:

In the symposium on attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, organized by the Areces Foundation, renowned experts participated and reported on the state of affairs at this time. Among the most prominent, Dr. José Antonio Ramos-Quiroga, psychiatrist and Department Head for the study of ADHD in Adults at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona, said that "a social system that denies the existence of a disorder that has been known about since the beginning of the last century, is a health system that is facilitating more drug addicts in its population." He indicated that about 50 percent of patients with ADHD will develop a substance abuse disorder at some point in life, and noted that "today there are sufficient data to show that early treatment during childhood may reduce the impact and frequency of drug use in these children. "

He also stressed the education level of these children and said that if they do not have the necessary support-these children are often reduced to making the child sit in the front row of class, helping them organize their schedule or give them more time during an exam-the system is destined to fail.

In regard to individual factors that are associated with a poor prognosis of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder(ADHD), he highlighted not being treated early on in childhood, noting that a high intelligence level can protect a person and give them more of an ability to adapt to challenges. He also highlighted some personality characteristics, since apart from this disorder a person can also have antisocial behavior, a personality that does not tolerate frustration well or be a more dependent person.

A professor and researcher on ADHD at the University of Puerto Rico, José Bauermeister, said that these people have more trouble learning, so they have a higher risk of suffering from dyslexia or dysgraphia. "Between 13 and 30 percent of children with ADHD are at a high risk of these specific learning problems." He also warned that "if these patients are not carefully evaluated by different specialists, it is possible that this student may be treated for ADHD and have other conditions affecting him or her ignored."

Maria Teresa Acosta, a Colombian researcher, emphasized that early identification of this disorder would set the pace so that within a society, family and school groups, they would be able to improve throughout life and be productive individuals.

The Head of the Department of Special Education and Educational Guidance of the Department of Education of Madrid, D. Francisco Sanchez, reported that ADHD should be treated in a specific way in schools with the help of all the diverse attention resources being available. These include everything from the day to day activities of the teacher in the classroom to the incorporation of support classes and even in specific cases, the determination of a psycho-pedagogical team of the need of special education with appropriate assistance.