STATEMENT:Girls Have Lower Rates and Less Severe

ADHD than BoysIs this true?

Myth # 7: Girls Have Lower Rates and Less Severe ADHD than Boys

• According to the Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health (2001) girls are less likely to receive a diagnosis of and treatment for ADHD compared to boys despite need. Gaub and Carlson (1997) found that girls with ADHD have greater intellectual impairment, but lower rates of hyperactivity and externalizing disorders compared to boys. Girls with ADHD have more severe internalizing disorders than boys, and both show more similarities than differences in symptoms and treatment needs. Biederman et al. (1999) found that girls with ADHD were more likely to have conduct problems, mood and anxiety disorders, lower IQ, and more impairment on social, family and school functioning than non-referred girls. However, conduct problems were lower in girls than in males with ADHD, which may account for lower referral rates in community and school samples. Girls in clinic samples also had high rates of substance abuse, alcohol, drug and cigarette use, and were at an increased risk for panic and obsessive compulsive disorders (Biederman et al., 1999).

• http://www.help4adhd.org/en/about/myths#myth4

• References

• Barkley, R. A., (1998). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment. New York: Guildford Press.

• Barkley, R. A., Fischer, M., Edelbrock, C., & Smallish, L. (1990). The adolescent outcome of hyperactive children diagnosed by research criteria: I. An 8-year prospective follow-up study. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 29, 546-557.

• Biederman, J., Faraone, S., Mick, E., Williamson, S., Wilens, T., Spencer, T., Weber, W., Jettson, J. Kraus, I., Pert, J., Zallen, B. (1999). Clinical correlates of AD/HD in females: Findings from a large group of girls ascertained from pediatric and psychiatric referral sources. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 38, 966-975.

• Bussing, R., Zima, B.T., Perwien, A.R., Belin, T.R., & Widawski, M. (1998). Children in special education programs: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, use of services and unmet needs. American Journal of Public Health, 88, 880-886.

• Cuffe, S.P., McKeown, R., Jackson, K., Addy, S., Abramson, R., & Garrison, C. (2001). Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a community of older adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 40, 1037-1044.

• Fischer, M., Barkley, R. A., Smallish, L., & Fletcher, K. (2002). Young adult follow-up of hyperactive children: Self-reported psychiatric disorders, comorbidity, and the role of childhood conduct problems and teen CD. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 30, 463-475.

• Goldman, L.S., Genel, M., Bezman, R.J., & Slanetz, P.J. (1998). Diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents. Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association. Journal of the American Medical Association, 297, 1100-1107.

• Goodman, R. & Stevenson, J. (1989). A twin study of hyperactivity: II. The aetiological role of genes, family relationships, and perinatal adversity. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 30, 691-709.

• Gaub, M., & Carlson, C. L. (1997). Gender differences in AD/HD: A meta-analysis and critical review. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 36, 1036-1045.

• Hoza, B., Owens, J.S., Pelham, W.E., Swanson, J.M., Conners, C.K., Hinshaw, S., Arnold, L., & Kraemer, H.C. (2000). Parent cognitions as predictors of child treatment response in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 28, 569- 583.

• Hunt, R.D. (1997). Nosology, neurobiology, and clinical patterns of AD/HD in adults. Psychiatry Annuls, 27, 572-581.

• Ingram, S., Hechtman, L., & Morgenstern, G. (1999). Outcome issues in AD/HD: Adolescent and adult long-term outcome. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 5, 243-250.

• Jensen, P.S., Hinshaw, S., Swanson, J., Greenhill, L., Conners, K., Arnold, E. et al. (2001). Findings from the NIMH multimodal treatment study of AD/HD (MTA): Implications and applications for primary care providers. Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 22, 60-73.

• Jensen, P.S., Kettle, L., Roper, M.T., Sloan, M.T., Dulcan, M.K., Hoven, C., Bird, H., Bauermister, J., & Payne, J. (1999). Are stimulants overprescribed? Treatment of AD/HD in four U.S. communities. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 38, 797-804.

• Johnston, C., & Freeman, W. (2002). Parent's beliefs about AD/HD: Implications for assessment and treatment. AD/HD Report, 10, (6-9).

• Johnston, C., & Paternaude, R. (1994). Parent attributions for inattentive-overactive and oppositional-defiant child behaviors. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 18, 261-275.

• Leibson, C.L., Katusic, S. K., Barbaresi, W.J., Ransom, J., & O?Brien, P.C. (2001). Use and cost of medical care for children and adolescents with and without attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder. JAMA, 285, 60-66.

• MTA Cooperative Group. (1999). A 14-month randomized clinical trial of treatment strategies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56, 1073- 1086.

• Murphy, K., & Barkley, R. A. (1996). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 37, 393-401.

• National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement: Diagnosis and Treatment of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) (2000). Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 39, 182-193.

• Panksepp, J. (1998). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, psychostimulants, and intolerance of child playfulness: A tragedy in the making? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 7, 91-98.

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• Safer, D. (2000). Are stiumulants overprescribed for youths with AD/HD? Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, 12, 55- 62.

• Safer, D.J., & Malever, M. (2000). Stimulant treatment in Maryland public schools. Pediatrics, 106, 533-539. Surgeon General?s Report, (2001). Report of the Surgeon General?s Conference on Children?s mental Health: A National Action Agenda. Department of Health and Human Services.

• Teeter, P. A., (1998). Interventions for AD/HD: Treatment in developmental context. New York: Guilford Press.

• Wolraich, M.L., Hannah, J.N., Pinnock, T.Y., Baumgaertel, A., & Brown, J. (1996). Comparison of diagnostic criteria for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in a county-wide sample. Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 35, 319-324.

• This article originally appeared in the June 2003 issue of Attention! magazine.

Do More Boys Have ADHD Than Girls?Published: 09/10/2013Why do boys have more ADHD than girls?

When you hear about a child having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you are more likely to see that it’s a boy. The question quickly arises whether it is possible for more boys to suffer from ADHD as opposed to girls. If the answer is yes then what are the reasons which cause a marked increase in the number of boys having ADHD than the girls?

Numerous medical studies have been conducted to reach a conclusion and the results have shown that ADHD actually is more common in boys than girls. According to many research findings, boys are three times more likely to suffer from ADHD when compared to girls. Experimental research data collected during these trials of various US areas have shown that 13.2% of school-aged boys and 5.6% of girls suffer from ADHD.

What Is The Reason Behind These Statistics?

The most common reason that medical professionals agree that more boys than girls suffer from ADHD has to do with the belief that ADHD is directly link to X-chromosomes. Since girls have two X-chromosomes, they are less likely to be affected with this condition. Even if one of their X-chromosome carries the defect causing ADHD, a girl’s second X-chromosome is likely to act as a backup and minimize the symptoms. Whereas boys only have one X-chromosome and if the gene defect is present in that chromosome, there is no backup to help minimize the effect.

True – boys are more prone to ADHD

Are There Any Differing Viewpoints?

Sure there are! There are many experts who tend to disagree that boys are more likely to have ADHA in comparison to girls. According to Dr. Marjorie Montague, a PhD professor of special education at the University of Miami, boys are more likely to be diagnosed of ADHD as they are more energetic and can show symptoms more clearly such as hyperactivity and restlessness. On the contrary, girls are less likely to display these symptoms and often go undetected of suffering from ADHD. That however does not mean that girls do not suffer from ADHD as much as boys do.

Parents who notice unusual symptoms such as restlessness, inattentiveness, impulsiveness, hyperactivity or lack of concentration in their children; whether boys or girls; should discuss them with their child’s doctor. Early detection of ADHD can help your child lead a normal and healthy life while managing the symptoms of ADHD at both home and school.- See more at:

http://healthagy.com/do-more-boys-have-adhd-than-girls/#sthash.34quwDXS.dpuf

- http://healthagy.com/do-more-boys-have-adhd-than-girls/

So what do you think now?

STATEMENT: Chewing gum is bad for your health.

Is this true?

What does chewing gum do?The physical act of chewing increases the flow of saliva in your mouth. If you chew after eating, the increased salivary flow can help neutralize and wash away the acids that are produced when food is broken down by the bacteria in plaque on your teeth. Over time, acid can break down tooth enamel, creating the conditions for decay. Increased saliva flow also carries with it more calcium and phosphate to help strengthen tooth enamel. Clinical studies have shown that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay. In the future, look for chewing gum that delivers a variety of therapeutic agents that could provide additional benefits to those provided by the ability of gum to mechanically stimulate saliva flow. For instance, some gum might contain active agents that could enhance the gum’s ability to remineralize teeth and reduce decay, or enable gum to help reduce plaque and gingivitis.

So what do you think now?

and finally….

What connection does all this have to the Enlightenment?

http://moonknightxp.blogspot.com/2012/02/18th-century-art.htmlhttp://mrgrayhistory.wikispaces.com/file/view/Enlightenment_-_Roots.jpg/245727579/924x505/Enlightenment_-_Roots.jpg