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Symptoms & Conditions > Adults' > ADHD > | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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About ADHD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a medical condition characterized by inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity. A broad range of symptoms are required for a diagnosis. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD, is a condition that affects millions of children and adults. Today, ADHD affects approximately 3% to 5% of the school-age population, with boys diagnosed 3 to 4 times more than girls. For a child with ADHD, it can mean feeling alone, and being unable to make and keep friends or participate in after-school activities, such as sports. Usually, academic performance is affected, too. Without the proper attention, problems associated with ADHD may continue into adolescence and adulthood. And while many people are being treated for the disorder, many others are not receiving the proper care and attention they need. |
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What's the difference between ADHD and ADD? ADHD is not a new disorder. It was first observed among children in the early 1900s, and has been extensively studied for more than 50 years. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) may be the most well known name for the disorder, but it is now considered a sub-classification of ADHD. In 1987, ADD was renamed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to include not only inattention but also symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity. Behavioral problems caused by upsetting events, especially among children, are not necessarily the signs of ADHD. The emotional trauma of divorce, changing schools, or moving to a new area should not be mistaken for the symptoms of ADHD. Upon diagnosis, a physician may classify ADHD more specifically as: a) Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type b) Predominantly Inattentive Type (the type sometimes referred to simply as Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD) c) Combined Type or the physician may not specify the disorder by subtype. |
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