The August 2005 issue of Pediatric News included an article by Kerri Wachter, a senior writer. Ms. Wachter reported the results of a survey where Dr. Wendy Davis, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont evaluated a group of pediatricians in Vermont for their adherence to guidelines outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics for treating ADHD. One guideline, recommended by the AAP was for including an assessment of possible co-existing conditions when evaluating children with ADHD.

Based on the survey that included 22 practicing pediatricians, only 32% were mostly or highly confident in identifying coexisting psychiatric conditions. The survey supports the need for pediatricians to improve their diagnostic acumen for coexisting disorders often seen in children with ADHD.

In another publication, by Dr. Craig Kumino at the Center for Attention, Mood and Behavior in St. Petersburg, Florida, cited the problems associated with treatment failures in children with ADHD. Some of the problems and possible causes for a poor response were selected from Dr. Kumino’s report, which included:

1.Coexistent conditions or wrong diagnosis. 2. Current family stressors. 3. Co morbid anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse. 4. Learning disorders. 5. Co morbid depression. 6. Eating disorders.

All of the above conditions are included in the ABLE Developmental Inventory and summarized in a comprehensive report. With the report generated by the ABLE Inventory, a child’s parent and pediatrician can discover other common conditions that are contributing to an unsatisfactory treatment outcome.

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