Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience more adversities than those without the condition, according to a recent study.

Children with ADHD usually struggle with focusing on tasks, staying organized, controlling their behavior and sitting still. However, researchers found that many children with the condition also face challenges such as poverty, divorce, neighborhood violence and substance abuse among family members.

"Our findings suggest that children with ADHD experience significantly higher rates of trauma than those without ADHD," Nicole M. Brown, lead author of the study, said in a statement. "Providers may focus on ADHD as the primary diagnosis and overlook the possible presence of a trauma history, which may impact treatment."

For the study, researchers analyzed data from the 2011 National Survey of Children's Health. They identified 65,680 children, between the ages of 6 and 17, whose parents answered questions regarding ADHD diagnosis, severity and medication use as well as nine adverse childhood experiences: poverty, divorce, death of a parent/guardian, domestic violence, neighborhood violence, substance abuse, incarceration, familial mental illness and discrimination.

They found that about 12 percent of the children were diagnosed with ADHD. Their parents reported a higher prevalence of all of the adverse events than parents of children without ADHD. Parents of children with ADHD also reported a higher number of adverse childhood experiences compared to children without ADHD; 17 percent of children with ADHD had four or more ACEs compared to 6 percent of children without ADHD.

Based on the findings, children dealing with four or more adverse experiences were nearly three times more likely to use ADHD medications compared to children with three or fewer adverse experiences. Children with four or more adverse experiences also were more likely to have a parent rate their ADHD as moderate to severe compared to children with three or fewer adverse childhood experiences.

"Knowledge about the prevalence and types of adverse experiences among children diagnosed with ADHD may guide efforts to address trauma in this population and improve ADHD screening, diagnostic accuracy and management," Brown said.

Researchers conclude that pediatric providers screen for adverse childhood experiences in children who they suspect may have ADHD and/or those who carry the diagnosis, and initiate evidence-based treatment/intervention plans for children who screen positive for adverse childhood experiences.