ADHD Drivers At Higher Risk For Accidents
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A new Canadian study shows a substantial increase in the risk of traffic collisions in teen boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. According to one doctor, ADHD should even be listed along with epilepsy or sleep disorders as a condition that should require individuals to prove they are fit for driving when they get a license. The study compared records from thousands of males ages 16-19 who were admitted to hospitals for either appendicitis or a road crash. Although the study did not seek data for who was at fault in the traffic accidents, results showed that subjects who had previously been treated for behavior disorders were at a 35 percent risk of being involved in a car accident -- even when they were pedestrians. Researchers say this is probably due to distraction, a prime characteristic of ADHD. Because many medicines taken to aid with attention wear off in the evening and may be prescribed only for weekday use, driving at these times may be more dangerous for individuals with the disorder. What do you think? Should ADHD drivers have to prove they can stay focused behind the wheel? SHARE:
Posted In: Attention Deficit Disorders | Tags: Add | Adhd | Driving | Teens | Posted by FindCounseling.com Staff on November 21, 2010 at 11:36 PM | Permalink |
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