What is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder of childhood. Symptoms begin before age 12 and persist into adulthood for some children. ADHD affects roughly 2.4 million children ages 6–11 and 3.3 million children ages 12–17.

Six of 10 children who experience symptoms of ADHD also may struggle with other emotional problems, such as anxiety or depression, and behavior problems.

Consider evaluation and treatment when ADHD causes symptoms that affect a person's ability to do well in school, at work, at home or in their relationships.

The three types of ADHD are:

1. Inattention ADHD

Symptoms can present themselves as:

• Easily distracted
• Poor attention to detail
• Putting off or avoiding tasks or projects that the person perceives or anticipates will take time or mental effort
• Difficulty organizing or prioritizing tasks
• Poor time management, such as consistently missing work deadlines, attending family functions or appointments late, not turning in or completing schoolwork, or underestimating how long something will take
• Forgetting or misplacing items frequently
• Difficulty following multiple-step instructions
• Forgetting to perform daily activities, such as completing chores or homework
• Not fully listening even though the person may be looking right at you

2. Hyperactivity or impulsivity ADHD

Symptoms can present themselves as:

• Having a hard time sitting still and a constant need to be on the go or moving around
• Frequently shifting from task to task without fully completing what has been started
• Difficulty standing in line or waiting. This may present as a child touching everything while waiting or a person bouncing from line to line to find the shortest line
• Tendency to talk too much, blurt or interrupt
• Impulsive behaviors — acting without thinking

In children, symptoms also can include running or climbing in inappropriate situations. In adults and adolescents, symptoms can include restlessness and fidgeting.

3. Combined ADHD

This type of ADHD is seen in a person who experiences a combination of inattention and hyperactivity or impulsivity symptoms.

What ADHD is not

ADHD is unrelated to intelligence. Many notable people have had ADHD, including Benjamin Franklin and President John F. Kennedy.

Also, ADHD has nothing to do with being lazy, lacking self-control or not trying hard enough. The brains in people with ADHD work differently than those without ADHD.

Treatment for ADHD

Standards of treating ADHD include learning techniques and skills to improve organization, completion of tasks, time management, and strategies to improve impulse control. Medications also can reduce symptoms so a person can learn the skills and techniques to improve symptoms.

If you are concerned that you or someone you care about may have ADHD, contact your health care team to discuss assessment and treatment options.

Jessie Wolf is a clinical social worker in Psychiatry & Psychology in New Prague, Minnesota.