Kazakh capital hosts first ADHD republican conference

According to the WHO estimates, some 5% of children and 2.5% of adults have been diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) globally. As psychiatrists say, children with ADHD face many learning difficulties. The first republican conference themed Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – diagnostic assessment and correction approaches took place at the initiative of child psychiatrists of Astana with the support of the Bolashak corporate foundation to raise awareness about ADHD, Kazinform News Agency reports.

Children with ADHD often have behavior and conduct problems. It is one of the disorders characterized by the inability to concentrate, being able to focus, hyperactivity and impulsivity. ADHD syndrome is from 2 to 7 times more common in boys than in girls.

The conference brought together over 100 experts from Astana, Pavlodar and Akmola region. Among those attending were teachers, special education teachers, speech therapists, social doctors, pediatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, ABA therapists, and parents of children with special education needs.

Schoolchildren are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. We would like to help experts and explain what the ADHD is, what ADHD symptoms are, and strategies how to teach children with ADHD syndrome to make them feel more comfortable. Quite often children with ADHD may seem rude. They cannot control their behavior and are more likely to be bullied at school, a child psychiatrist and assistant professor of the faculty at the Medical University of Astana, Tatiana Degtyar, said.

Notably, only 20% of adults have been found to have ADHD and obtain the necessary assistance to manage their symptoms.