Understanding ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder affecting about 3-5% of the world’s population. It typically presents itself during childhood, and is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity, as well as forgetfulness, poor impulse control or impulsivity, and distractibility.

ADHD is currently considered to be a persistent and chronic condition for which no medical cure is available, although medication can be prescribed. ADHD is most commonly diagnosed in children and, over the past decade, has been increasingly diagnosed in adults. About 60% of children diagnosed with ADHD retain the condition as adults. It appears to be highly inheritable, although one-fifth of all cases are estimated to be caused from trauma or toxic exposure.

Methods of treatment usually involve some combination of medications, behavior modifications, life style changes, and counseling. The scientific consensus in the field, and the consensus of the national health institutes of the world, is that ADHD is a disorder that impairs functioning, and that many adverse life outcomes are associated with ADHD.