Adapting care to those with ADHD

Diane Rochford discusses how to tailor care to provide the best service to patients. 

There are a number of conditions that dental professionals have to be aware of when treating patients. Individuals with mental health disorders, in particular, can provide a number of challenges, especially if the condition in question is nuanced and affects each individual uniquely, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It is never too late to learn more about this often-misunderstood condition and raise awareness about how the disorder can impact oral health. 

What is ADHD? 
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterised by symptoms such as inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It is thought that around 1.5m individuals in the UK have ADHD, but that as few as 120,000 have been formally diagnosed with the condition. 

This is due to the fact that ADHD impacts people differently and has varying severities, meaning that those with only a very mild case of ADHD can go undiagnosed for a long time. Indeed, recent estimates have said that an adult diagnosis for the condition can take up to seven years. In children, prevalence of the condition is still relatively high with one in 200 children being diagnosed, though there is space to assume that the condition is more common than this.