Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric disorder of the neurodevelopmental type

It characterized by problems paying attention, excessive activity, or difficulty controlling behavior which is not appropriate for a person's age


Symptoms in Children

Symptoms are grouped into three categories:

Inattention. A child with ADHD:
-Is easily distracted
-Doesn't follow directions or finish tasks
-Doesn't appear to be listening
-Doesn't pay attention and makes careless mistakes
-Forgets about daily activities
-Has problems organizing daily tasks
-Doesn’t like to do things that require sitting still
-Often loses things
-Tends to daydream

Hyperactivity. A child with ADHD:
-Often squirms, fidgets, or bounces when sitting
-Doesn't stay seated
-Has trouble playing quietly
-Is always moving, such as running or climbing on things (In teens and adults, this is more commonly described as restlessness.)
-Talks excessively
-Is always “on the go” as if “driven by a motor”

Impulsivity. A child with ADHD:
-Has trouble waiting for his or her turn
-Blurts out answers
-Interrupts others


Causes of ADHD

-Heredity. ADHD tends to run in families.

-Chemical imbalance. Brain chemicals in people with ADHD may be out of balance.

-Brain changes. Areas of the brain that control attention are less active in children with ADHD.

-Poor nutrition, infections, smoking, drinking, and substance abuse during pregnancy. These things can affect a baby’s brain development.

-Toxins, such as lead. They may affect a child's brain development.

-A brain injury or a brain disorder. Damage to the front of the brain, called the frontal lobe, can cause problems with controlling impulses and emotions.