The reporting of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms has been increasing in people with learning disability but researchers have also argued that such symptoms are being under diagnosed and also poorly treated.

This review set out to identify the level of ADHD symptoms in children and adults with learning disabilities reported in published studies and to consider the validity of the diagnosis. The authors also looked at the nature and range of interventions.

They found a great variance in the reported prevalence rates of ADHD symptoms depending on which instruments and diagnostic practices were used in the studies. In terms of the interventions reported, they found that the primary focus in published studies was on pharmacological interventions.

The authors conclude that much less is known about ADHD in individuals with learning disability than in those without. They argue that in order to clarify prevalence and to consider effective treatment, there is a need to establish baseline rates appropriately test a broader range of treatment options.

Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adults with Intellectual Disability: A Review, Reilly, C &Holland, N, in Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 24: 291–309.