Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition that affects millions of children and often continues into adulthood. ADHD includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior.
Children with ADHD may also struggle with low self-esteem, troubled relationships, and poor performance in school. Symptoms sometimes lessen with age. However, some people never completely outgrow their ADHD symptoms. But they can learn strategies to be successful. While treatment won’t cure ADHD, it can help a great deal with symptoms. Treatment typically involves medications and behavioral interventions. Early diagnosis and treatment can make a big difference in the outcome.
It is normal for children to have trouble focusing and behaving at one time or another. However, children with ADHD do not just grow out of these behaviors. The symptoms continue, can be severe, and can cause difficulty at school, at home, or with friends. A child with ADHD might daydream a lot, forget or lose things a lot, squirm, fidget, talk too much, make careless mistakes or take unnecessary risks, have a hard time resisting temptation, have trouble taking turns, and have difficulty getting along with others.
Treatment for ADHD typically includes behavioral therapies, medication, or both. Types of therapy include psychotherapy or talk therapy. With talk therapy, you or your child will discuss how ADHD affects your life and ways to help you manage it. Another therapy type is behavioral therapy. This therapy can help you or your child with learning how to monitor and manage your behavior. Medication can also be very helpful when you’re living with ADHD. ADHD medications are designed to affect brain chemicals in a way that enables you to better control your impulses and actions. The two main types of medications used to treat ADHD are stimulants and non stimulants. Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants are the most commonly prescribed ADHD medications. These drugs work by increasing the amounts of brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine. In addition to — or instead of — medication, several remedies have been suggested to help improve ADHD symptoms. For starters, following a healthy lifestyle may help you or your child manage ADHD symptoms.
The table below includes the most commonly used ICD-10 codes for ADHD:
| ICD-10 Chapter | Codes | Code Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | F90.0 | Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, predominantly inattentive type |
| 5 | F90.1 | Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, predominantly hyperactive type |
| 5 | F90.2 | Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, combined type |
| 5 | F90.8 | Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, other type |
| 5 | F90.9 | Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, unspecified type |
Author: Tonoya Ahmed
