Just a question???

[Tigger]

I have a question, or maybe just a thought, i have these friends that come over every night and play games and hangs with us every night , and i they have 2 girls and a baby boy now. and 1 of the girls have down syndrome. well me and the mother have been wondering if a child with down syndrome can have ADHD, because we can see it in her. the mother has ADHD and is on meds for this. The mother also works with the state with specail needs kids like kids with autism, and down syndrome, but we are just wondering if the little girl could have it. i havent research this out yet just because i have been sick and i am trying to get better but i thought i would ask you guys. i am assuming that she could have it tho because i know ADHD rarely runs alone

[jj]

According to this article, yes, but it sounds like a duel dx is really rare. The author kind of suggests that in her practice there are some kids that could be dx'd with both and could benefit from knowing this. I just skimmed the article but that was my quick take on it.

[katiekat]

I have worked with many, many kids of all ages with Downs and have never seen it. Im sure it is possible even if extremely rare. Could just be part of the DS also.

[charliegirl]

In some cases, Down Syndrome can appear similar to ADHD. Since like with ADHD, not every child has the same symptoms or severity of each symptom, it could appear that one may have ADHD. Its more likely caused by the DS. I found this on the web. I hope it helps.

www.down-syndrome.org/case-studies/2008/

For many parents, researchers, and practitioners familiar with children with Down syndrome, challenging behaviour is a common occurrence. Children with Down syndrome are often described as
"stubborn" and "obstinate." In fact, references to challenging behaviour have historically been seen in the clinical literature and continue to exist today. For example, children with Down syndrome show higher rates (than typically developing children) of attention problems, social withdrawal, noncompliance, and compulsions (such as arranging objects and repeating certain actions)[2,3], as well as high rates of self-talk[4]. With increasing age, behaviours associated with anxiety, depression, and withdrawal also increase[5]. Finally, recent research has indicated a pervasive pattern in children with Down syndrome, present from infancy, of escape and attention motivated challenging behaviours involving noncompliance and misuse of social behaviours[6,7].