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Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed behavior disorder in young people. It is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. ADHD affects an estimated two million American children. Sometimes the disorder is not diagnosed until adolescence or adulthood, but there is no specific data on the rates of ADHD in adults. There are three different types of ADHD, predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and combined. A diagnosis of ADHD is made when at least six symptoms of one or both of the separate types are displayed. There must also be impairment in at least two settings, such as home and school, and some of the symptoms starting before age seven. The symptoms of predominantly inattentive are failure to pay close attention to details or making careless mistakes, difficulty maintaining attention to tasks, seem not to listen when spoken to, do not follow through on instructions and fail to finish tasks, difficulty organizing activities, avoid or dislike activities that require sustained mental effort, lose things necessary to complete tasks, are easily distracted, and are forgetful in daily tasks. The symptoms of predominantly hyperactive/impulsive are fidgeting and squirming while sitting, leave their seats when they should remain seated, move excessively or feel restless when inappropriate, have difficulty with leisure activities, are always "on the go," talk excessively, blurt out answers before questions are completed, difficulty waiting their turn, and interrupt or intrude on others. Those with the combined type display symptoms of both. Evidence shows that ADHD is a biological disorder. PET scans have detected significantly lower metabolic activity in the regions of the brain that control movement, attention, and social judgment in those with ADHD. People with ADHD may also have lower levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in critical areas of the brain, according to biological studies. There is also a suggestion of a genetic basis-ADHD tends to run in families.

 

 

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