Some 200,000 children in Romania suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, according to the Analysis of mental health services for children in Romania study conducted by Salvati Copiii and CURS. Of the total, only 8,000, meaning 4%, are found in specialists’ records and receive treatment.

Most of the children suffering from ADHD have a poor school performance, compared to those not having this behavioral disorder. Around 61% of children with ADHD manage to graduate high school, compared to a rate of 98.7% in the case of children without ADHD, less than 9.1% finish college (compared to 68% of those without this health problem), 45.5% have learning difficulties and over 70% are suspended or expelled from school (compared to 21.3% of the children without ADHD).

Taking into account the new school year has just started, psychologists point out that ADHD shouldn’t be seen as a disease, but as a behavioral disorder that if handled properly will help children with ADHD to adapt more easily to the educational environment.

ADHD is a psychiatric disorder found mostly in children, which is manifested by the inability to concentrate in certain situations or completing an action and / or a task. Starting with January 2014, ADHD is no longer considered a disease, but a behavioral disorder.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com