According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, almost half of all children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder also suffer from other conditions, such as depression or a learning disability. Often, by effectively treating the coexisting condition, ADHD will be easier to manage. The National Institute of Mental Health urges everyone diagnosed with ADHD to be further evaluated for each of the following conditions. About 25 percent feel anxious, worried, tense, fearful, or uneasy for no apparent reason.
Depression can disrupt sleep, appetite, and cognitive functioning.
Some learning disabilities make it difficult for children to master language or certain academic skills, usually reading and math. By interfering with a child's ability to concentrate, it can make succeeding in school even more challenging for a learning-disabled child. If your child has ADHD, he may also have another condition called oppositional defiant disorder, which affects about half of all children with ADHD - primarily boys. Kids with oppositional defiant disorder tend to be aggressive physically and may punch playmates or overreact or lash out when feeling badly about themselves. Other hallmarks of oppositional defiant disorder include stubbornness, temper outbursts, belligerence, or defiance.