ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The term Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity disorders comes from The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
ADHD is not a new disorder. Records reporting symptoms of ADHD date back to 1902. Over the years,
there have been many names for ADHD. These names include Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD),
hyperkinetic reaction of childhood, and even "minimal brain dysfunction".
ADHD is a disorder of executive functioning.
Executive functioning refers to the ability to:
plan ahead
focus
switch from one activity to another
wait patiently, and
remember information for a short while.
Most people have trouble with these tasks sometimes. People with ADHD have more trouble
than most people. These problems make their lives very hard. A person can only have ADHD if these
problems are making their lives hard.
ADHD is usually found in children. However, adults can also have ADHD.
ADHD can look very different in different people. There are three types of ADHD.
Predominately Inattentive Type - People with this type of ADHD mainly
struggle with paying attention. They also:
get easily distracted,
are forgetful,
lose things,
have trouble listening when someone is speaking to them
have trouble doing what they are told.
Predominately Hyperactive-Impulsive Type - People with this type of ADHD
mainly struggle with having too much energy and acting too quickly. They also:
fidget and squirm in their seat
frequently on-the-go
talk a lot
can not wait their turn
interrupt others
Combined Type - This is the most common type of ADHD. People with
this type of ADHD have the problems from both types listed above.
Both children and adults can have ADHD. Only people who have had problems before age
12 can be diagnosed with ADHD. Symptoms of ADHD can last into adulthood. Treating ADHD in children
is important because it can lead to a better outcome. Many people with ADHD go on to live happy,
successful lives.
