Imagine living in a world where sights, sounds, images and thoughts are constantly
changing and shifting. Unable to focus on whatever task is at hand, your mind wanders
from one activity or thought to the next. Sometimes you become so lost among all the
thoughts and images that you don't even notice when someone is speaking to you.
This is what it is like for many people who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder, or ADHD. Once called hyperkinesis or minimal brain dysfunction, ADHD is one
of the most common mental disorders among children. It affects 3 to 5 percent of all
children, and it is likely to occur two to three times more in boys than in girls.
People who have ADHD may be unable to sit still, plan ahead, finish tasks, or be
completely aware of what is going on in the world around them. However, on some
occasions, they may appear 'normal', leading others to believe that the person with
ADHD can control such behaviors.
As a result of this, ADHD can hinder the person's
relationships and interactions with others in addition to disrupting their daily life and
To determine whether or not a person has ADHD, specialists must consider
several questions: Do these behaviors occur more often than in other people of the same
age? Are the behaviors an ongoing problem, not just a response to a [temporary]
situation? Do the behaviors occur only in one specific place or in several different settings?
In answering these questions, the person's behavior patterns are compared to a set
of criteria and characteristics of ADHD. The Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM) presents this set of criteria. According to the DSM, there are three
patterns of behavior that indicate ADHD: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
According to the...