What is ADHD?
Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have symptoms that look like1:
- Being overly active
- Acting out without thinking about the results
- Having trouble learning
- Finding it hard to pay attention
- Forgetting or losing things
- Having trouble taking turns
- Making careless mistakes or taking unnecessary risks
- Often squirms, fidgets, or bounces when sitting
- ADHD is a long-term medical condition that can interfere with your child's activities in various situations: at home, with friends, or at school.2,3
- ADHD is one of the most common brain-based disorders that affects about one in ten school-aged children. Symptoms continue into adulthood for more than half of those who have it in childhood. People who have ADHD may have higher levels of inattention, impulsiveness, and/or hyperactivity than their peers.4
- ADHD used to be called attention deficit disorder (ADD); both are the same medical condition.3
- ADHD symptoms start before age 12 years, and in some children, they are noticeable as early as 3 years of age. ADHD symptoms may continue into adulthood.
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Fact Sheet. 2020. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/documents/adhdfactsheetenglish.pdf. Accessed June 7, 2020.
- WebMD. What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? 2020. Available at https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd#1. Accessed June 7, 2020.
- Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). About ADHD Fact Sheet. Available at https://chadd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/aboutADHD.pdf. Accessed June 7, 2020.
- Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). National Resource Center on ADHD. ADHD Quick Facts About ADHD. 2020. Available at https://chadd.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/About-ADHD-ADHD_QF.pdf. Accessed June 7, 2020.
- University of Michigan Health System. Children with Chronic Conditions. Available at https://psychologyinterns.org/wp-content/uploads/3.Children-with-Chronic-Conditions_-Your-Child_-University-of-Michigan-Health-System.pdf. Accessed June 7, 2020.