Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a childhood disorder characterized by hyperactivity, impulsivity, and/or inattention. Not all ADHD sufferers experience all three behavioral symptoms, but each of them can lead to difficulty in academic, emotional, and social functioning of the child. ADHD diagnosis is made by satisfying a specific criteria, which may be associated with other neurological, behavioral, and developmental or learning disabilities.
Several studies in the United States report that approximately eight to ten percent of children meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. Thus, ADHD is considered to be one of the most common childhood disorders. Boys are four time more likely to suffer from ADHD than girls.
ADHD has three subtypes. These are:
1. Predominantly inattentive
2. Predominantly hyperactive
3. Combined
It is believed that children eventually outgrow ADHD; however, recent studies indicates that many children continue to show symptoms that can affect both their occupational and social functioning their entire lives. About 40 to 50 percent of all reported cases of ADHD hyperactive in children persist throughout adulthood.
Causes:
Specific causes of ADHD are unknown, but there are factors that may aggravate the occurence of ADHD: