Parents of children suffering from severe hyperkinetic disorders, if left untreated for a long time, often have to deal alone with numerous problems at school as well as various problems occurring in social situations.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a clinical condition that is associated with functional impairment in many areas, causing learning problems, impaired relationships with loved ones, social difficulties and various problematic behaviors. It is one of the most common mental disorders in children, and in social consciousness it is incorrectly associated with this age group only. Until recently, many experts also shared this view – it was believed that the symptoms of the syndrome disappear during or just after adolescence, and that its effect on adult functioning is small or even non-existent.
As if after exceeding a certain age the symptoms of psychomotor hyperactivity and attention disorders would disappear.However, the results of reliable studies from recent years indicate that in most cases, ADHD also persists in adults, along with associated psychosocial problems. This syndrome begins in childhood and is a lifelong condition. Usually, the clinical picture of the disorder changes with the age of the patient, but it is largely similar to that observed in children.
Despite these data, in many European countries, ADHD in adults is too rarely diagnosed and treated. This can lead to unnecessary suffering for these people, their relatives and those around them. It should be emphasized that there are adequate and effective methods of diagnosing and treating ADHD in adults!Currently, many European countries recommend that ADHD be diagnosed and properly treated throughout the life of patients.