Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder - Description

ADHD is thought to affect 3 to 9 percent of all children and is more common in boys than in girls. The signs of ADHD may first appear as early as the age of two or three. In most cases, however, the disorder is not diagnosed until adolescence. Some symptoms of ADHD, such as hyperactivity, tend to disappear in early adulthood. But others, such as inattention to details, remain with up to half of all ADHD individuals throughout their lives.

Children with ADHD have short attention spans. They may become bored or frustrated with tasks. They may be intelligent, but they receive poor grades in school because they do not focus on their work. They tend to be overly active, constantly moving, running, climbing, squirming, and fidgeting. They often have trouble controlling their muscles, which makes them clumsy and physically awkward. Such problems can cause social difficulties as well. Other children may avoid youngsters with ADHD because they may be noisy or bothersome.