P-256 - Diagnoses, Treatment and Management of Adhd - a Parents' Survey by Tdah France

Abstract

ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder stands for a neuro-developmental disorder occurring in childhood before the age of 7. ADHD negatively impairs daily aspects of live including school, work, and interpersonal relationships.

Our study was made in august 2011 by gathering information from TDAH-France association adherents' parents using a web based survey. the results are based on a population of 761 collected replies, including 667 considered as fully answered. According to those results, the average detection age is 8.6, with a ratio of 8 boys for one girl, the mean time to obtain a diagnosis is around 22 months.

TDAH-France being strongly involved in connecting parents looking for a diagnosis to ADHD specialists - mainly pediatricians, neurologists and psychiatrists with 2/3 working as hospital practitioner - The average wait for the first appointment is below 3 months.

Education related issues like school or work are quoted as the main reasons making parents seek for professional help. Clinical assessments is necessary to establish a diagnosis, IQ test being, among the others, the most used.

The vast majority of the diagnosed children treatment is based on methylphenidate combined with behavioral and psychosocial treatments. Less than 50% of the parents will ask for official handicap recognition and only a third of the children obtain free appropriation school services or accommodation.

Scholarship is a major concern with ADHD: one ADHD child out of 5 is concerned by school exclusion, and a tiers is concerned by year repeating.