About ADHD

History of ADHD

Symptoms of ADHD were first recognized over 100 years ago. In 1902, the medical field began documenting children exhibiting symptoms of inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Since then the disorder has  numerous labels including: minimal brain dysfunction, hyperkinetic reaction of childhood and attention-deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity.

With the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV), the disorder is attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. With the most recent name change, there is added emphasis given to the “inattention” characteristics of the disorder as well as other characteristics such as hyperactivity. While some individuals, including many professionals and the media, still refer to the condition as “ADD” (attention deficit disorder), this term is no longer in widespread use. For those diagnosed with ADD, the corresponding diagnostic category, using current terminology, would most likely be “ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type.”

What is ADHD?

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobiological disorder characterized by inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Between 3% and 7% of school-aged children are affected by ADHD. ADHD is a lifespan condition that affects children, adolescents, and adults of all ages. It affects both males and females, and people of all races and cultural backgrounds.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV), published by the American Psychiatric Association, describes three subtypes of ADHD; ADHD predominantly inattentive type, ADHD predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type and ADHD combined type. A diagnosis of one type or another depends on the specific symptoms (i.e. the “diagnostic criteria”) that person exhibits. For a diagnosis of ADHD, six or more of the symptoms listed below must have persisted for at least six months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level.

 Predominantly Inattentive type may often:

  • Fail to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork
  • Have difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
  • Not seem to listen when spoken to directly
  • Not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork or chores
  • Have difficulty organizing tasks and activities
  • Avoid tasks that require sustained mental effort (schoolwork or homework)
  • Lose things necessary for tasks (pencils, books, school assignments)
  • Distracted by extraneous stimuli
  • Be forgetful in daily activities

 Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive type may often:

  • Fidget with hands and feet or squirms in seat.
  • Leaves their seat when they need to stay seated.
  • Trouble playing quietly or engaging in leisure activities.
  • Talk excessively.
  • Run about or climb excessively
  • Is “on the go” or act as if driven by a motor
  • Blurts out answers to incomplete questions
  • Has difficulty waiting for his/her turn
  • Interrupt or intrude on others

 Combined Type:

  • The individual meets both sets of inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive criteria.

Additional criteria needed to make a diagnosis of ADHD include:

  1. Some hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms that caused impairment were present before age 7
  2. Some impairment from the symptoms is present in two or more settings (school; work; home)
  3. Clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, academic or occupational functioning

It is important to note that the presence of significant impairment in two or more major life settings is central to an ADHD diagnosis. Examples of significant impairment include: losing a job because of ADHD symptoms, difficulty maintaining relationships with family members or friends, getting into financial trouble due to impulsive spending or getting academic probation in school due to failing grades.

Although elementary school aged children with ADHD have problems with inattention and impulsivity, the challenges facing teens with ADHD can be more complex. During these years, academic and organizational demands increase. In addition, these teens also face all of the typical adolescent issues such as developing and discovering their identity, wanting more independence, dealing with peer pressure, exposure to illegal drugs and alcohol, emerging sexuality, and learning how to drive.

What Causes ADHD?

Symptoms of ADHD are not related to gender, level of intelligence or cultural environment. In fact, ADHD heredity and genetics make the largest contribution to the occurrence of ADHD.

Furthermore, several genes associated with the disorder are identified to date. In cases where heredity is not a factor, factors such as difficulties during pregnancy, prenatal exposure to alcohol and tobacco smoke, significantly low birth weight, excessively high body lead levels, and post-natal injury to the prefrontal areas of the brain have been found to contribute to the risk for ADHD.

Current research does not support the idea that ADHD is the cause of excessive sugar intake, food additives, excessive viewing of television, or poor parenting skills.

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