Coexisting Conditions in Children and Teens with ADHD (including Conditions that Can Cause ADHD-Like Presentations)

ADHD is a foundational disorder that frequently occurs with coexisting conditions. There are a number of sleep, neurodevelopmental, sensory processing, fetal substance exposure, psychological, trauma, substance use conditions which can frequently occur with and worsen ADHD, or cause ADHD-like symptoms when true ADHD does not exist. Between 67 to 80% of clinic-referred children and 80% or more of adults with ADHD have at least one additional disorder, up to 50% have two or more other conditions, and 20% have three or more coexisting disorders. When other disorders exist along with ADHD, these combinations can magnify and sometimes even mask ADHD to create more complex diagnostic presentations that make successful evaluations and treatment even more challenging. Because ADHD can “hide” these conditions, they may not be recognized as separate disorders and these other symptoms and conditions may be incorrectly assumed to be part of the ADHD.

Additionally, while clinical practice guidelines recommend that ADHD evaluations include the exploration of potential coexisting or other conditions, clinicians may not adequately screen for and identify the numerous additional conditions as part of their diagnostic process because they do not know about the disorders, or have not been informed to do so. Sometimes true ADHD does not exist, but because many conditions can cause ADHD-like presentations, a misdiagnosis of ADHD may result. Further, when coexisting conditions are not identified, comprehensive and effective treatment typically does not occur and families and clinicians may experience confusion with only partial progress, while symptoms and frustrations can persist without hope or relief.

This presentation will discuss the importance of identifying and addressing the numerous potential conditions that can coexist with ADHD in children and adolescents. The conditions addressed in the presentation include medical, prenatal substance exposure, sleep, neurodevelopmental, sensory processing, psychological, substance use, psychological trauma and trauma-related conditions. These will be discussed, their key symptoms will be presented so participants can better understand and identify the disorders, and the providers who can further evaluate and treat them will be shared.

After attending this intermediate-level program, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the importance of properly identifying and treating conditions that may coexist with ADHD or cause ADHD-like presentations conditions.
• Articulate the challenges of identifying coexisting conditions in children and adolescents with ADHD.
• Identify and understand the symptoms of child and adolescent medical, sleep, neurodevelopmental, sensory processing, fetal substance exposure, psychological, trauma, and neglect conditions which can occur with and worsen ADHD, or cause ADHD-like symptoms when true ADHD does not exist.
• Identify the providers who can further evaluate and treat these conditions.

This program meets APA’s continuing education STANDARD 1.1: Program content focuses on application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that have overall consistent and credible empirical support in the contemporary peer reviewed scientific literature beyond those publications and other types of communications devoted primarily to the promotion of the approach.

This program meets APA’s continuing education GOAL 1: Program is relevant to psychological practice, education, and/or science.

General Admission: $49

The Chicago School Faculty/Staff: $30*

The Chicago School Students: $20*

(*Please email [email protected] for coupon code)

Refund Policy: 100% of tuition is refundable up to 48 hours before the program. Within 48 hours of the program, and at any point in Homestudy format, tuition is nonrefundable.

Gene Carroccia, Psy.D.; Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Author, and Vice President of Behavioral Health Care at a large not-for-profit health care system

Gene Carroccia, Psy.D. earned his Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware and doctorate in clinical psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Carroccia is a licensed clinical psychologist in Illinois who has extensive experience working with individuals with ADHD, as well as other conditions, including psychological trauma and maltreatment. For over twenty years, he has evaluated and treated hundreds of children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD. He works at a large not-for-profit health care system as a Vice President of Behavioral Health Care Services. For many years prior to this he supervised doctoral interns and was the director of an accredited doctoral clinical psychology internship training program. Dr. Carroccia is the author of two ADHDology books entitled Treating ADHD/ADD in Children and Adolescents: Solutions for Parents and Clinicians (2019) and Evaluating ADHD in Children and Adolescents: A Comprehensive Diagnostic Screening System (2020). He was also the editor of the clinical workbook Treating Sexual Abuse and Trauma with Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities, published by Charles C. Thomas. He resides in the suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two sons. For more information about his books, please visit adhdology.com.

Carroccia, G. (2020). Evaluating ADHD in Children and Adolescents. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015, April 16). Facts about FASDs. Retrieved f from www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/facts.html

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. (2015, November 21). Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-
issues/conditions/chronic/Pages/Fetal-Alcohol-Spectrum-Disorders.aspx

Pliszka, S. (2015). Comorbid psychiatric disorders in children with ADHD. In R. Barkley (Ed.), Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment (4th ed., pp. 140-168). New York: Guilford Press.

Target Audience: Clinical and School Psychologists, LCSWs, LMFTs, LCPCs, all mental health disciplines, graduate students, child and adolescent educators, and clinicians working with children and adolescents who have ADHD.

Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 3.0 continuing education credits. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods. 

Counselors/Clinical Counselors. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 3.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for counselors and clinical counselors. License Number: 197.000159

Social Workers. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 3.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for social workers. License Number: 159.001036

MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. Course meets the qualifications for 3.0 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. If you are licensed outside of California please check with your local licensing agency to to determine if they will accept these CEUs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to offer continuing education programming for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an accredited or approved postsecondary institution that meets the requirements set forth in Sections 4980.54(f)(1), 4989.34, 4996.22(d)(1), or 4999.76(d) of the Code.

School Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 3.0 hours of continuing professional development. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s School Psychology Program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to offer continuing professional development. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this continuing professional development activity. 

Non-Psychologists. Most licensing boards accept Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the American Psychological Association but non-psychologists are recommended to consult with their specific state-licensing board to ensure that APA-sponsored CE is acceptable.

*Participants must attend 100% of the program in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance.

If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to [email protected]. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.