Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a common disorder among children. It is a difficult disorder to diagnose and an even harder one to understand. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) estimates that ADHD affects between four percent and twelve percent of all school age children. ADHD is a disorder that can create problems within the home, at school, or in relationships with friends. The National Institute of Mental health states that two to three times more likely boys that girls are affected by ADHD. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) was renamed ADHD in 1994 by The American Psychiatric Association.
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Some familiar signs of ADHD are fidgeting or squirming, difficulty remaining seated, excessive running or climbing, difficulty playing quietly, always seaming to be "on the go", excessive talking, blurting out answers before hearing the full question, difficulty waiting for a turn on line, and problems with interrupting or intruding. To diagnose a child with ADHD the child has to display these behaviors before the age of seven, and the behaviors must last for at least six months. A child's behavior must also be negatively affecting at least two areas of a child's life, either at school, home, daycare, or friendships to be diagnosed with ADHD.
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Most all school-aged children have trouble paying attention, following directions, or being quiet from time to time, but in children with ADHD it happens more frequently and disturbs children around them. A child with ADHD feels like their being picked on or singled out when they get in trouble by a teacher, or at home, or when playing with a group of friends.
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There is a neurological dysfunction within the brain that causes ADHD. Studies using PET scans confirm that there is a difference in brain functioning between a group of individuals diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD is still not thoroughly understood and remains under scientific study. Scientist believe that brain chemistry is out of balance and chemicals called neurotransmitters may be lacking.