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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD or ADD) is a persistent pattern of inattention, hyper-activity and impulsiveness that is more frequent and severe than behavior seen in individuals of a similar age. ADHD generally has an onset prior to the age of 7, but earlier symptoms may be diagnosed. While many children may exhibit some occasional signs of hyperactivity, those with ADHD exhibit a regular pattern of behavior at both school and home. According to the organization known as CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), about 1% to 3% of the school-aged population have “full” ADHD syndrome, without symptoms of other disorders. Another 5% to 10% of the school-aged population have partial ADHD syndrome with other problems, such as anxiety and depression, present. Gender and age affect the ways in which people with ADHD express their symptoms. Boys are about three times more likely than girls to have symptoms of ADHD. Symptoms of ADHD decrease with age, but symptoms of associated features and related disorders increase with age. Between 30% and 50% of children still manifest symptoms into adulthood.

A common fallacy is that ADHD is a learning disability. It is not—ADHD is behavioral in nature and is characterized by impulsiveness and an inability to pay attention for more than a few minutes. This may cause some students to make mistakes in schoolwork or other tasks, but these mistakes are a result of their ADHD, not their ability to learn.

In the earlier years of research on attention deficit disorders, a distinction was made between Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, CHADD states that although “other definitions have existed, these are different labels for the same conditions and can be interchanged . . . .”

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