CHILDREN IN SPECIAL-EDUCATION PROGRAMS - ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER, USE OF SERVICES, AND UNMET NEEDS

Objectives. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a common psychiatric condition, may impair a child's ability to learn and to fo rm social relationships, tasks critical to healthy development. This s tudy describes the prevalence of the disorder among children in specia l education programs and identifies the extent and predictors of unmet service needs. Methods. A 2-stage screening protocol of a countywide population of second-through fourth-grade students in special educatio n was conducted to (1) screen for ADHD, employing standardized parent and teacher questionnaires, and determine health services use (n = 499 ) and (2) perform diagnostic assessments of ADHD (n = 318). Results. A lmost half of the children qualified for a diagnosis of ADHD, yet only half of those were reportedly receiving care for the condition, mainl y in the general health care sector. Girls were more than 3 times as l ikely as boys to have unmet service needs; minority status, low income , and health maintenance organization coverage also emerged as possibl e risk factors for unmet service needs. Conclusions. ADHD is a common yet often untreated condition among children in special education. Men tal health services for children with this disorder should be integrat ed with general health care and special education programs.