ADHD
(Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is the most commonly studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children, affecting about 3 to 5 percent of children globally – 30 to 50 percent of those individuals diagnosed in childhood continuing to have symptoms into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed two to four times more frequently in boys than in girls. Adolescents and adults with ADHD tend to develop coping mechanisms to compensate for some or all of their impairments.
Signs and symptoms
ADHD has three subtypes:
- Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive
- Have difficulty maintaining focus on one task
- Become bored with a task after only a few minutes, unless doing something enjoyable.
- Struggle to follow instructions.
- Have difficulty focusing attention on organizing and completing a task or learning something new or trouble completing or turning in homework assignments, often losing things (e.g., pencils, toys, assignments) needed to complete tasks or activities.
- Not seem to listen when spoken to.
- Be easily distracted, miss details, forget things, and frequently switch from one activity to another.
- Have difficulty processing information as quickly and accurately as others.
- Daydream, become easily confused, and move slowly.
- Predominantly inattentive
- Have difficulty waiting for things they want or waiting their turns in games.
- Be very impatient.
- Fidget and squirm in their seats.
- Be constantly in motion.
- Have trouble sitting still during dinner, school, and story time.
- Have difficulty doing quiet tasks or activities.
- Dash around, touching or playing with anything and everything in sight.
- Talk nonstop
- Blurt out inappropriate comments, show their emotions without restraint, and act without regard for consequences.
- Combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive