Question: What information is there on attention deficit disorder in deaf children?
Sometimes parents of a deaf child will write to About.com to say that their child is not only deaf but also has attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder (ADD/ADHD). Is there any information and help for them?
Answer: Deafness may make diagnosing ADD/ADHD in a deaf child more challenging. It is not easy to distinguish "deaf" behavior from "ADD" behavior. A dual expert in deafness and ADD is often needed to make an accurate diagnosis.
This article on attention deficit disorder and deafness discusses deafness and ADD/ADHD, my personal experience, studies on attention deficit in deaf children and support for parents of deaf children with ADD/ADHD.
About.com also has a Guide for ADD/ADHD.
