Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a brain disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and into adulthood. The median age of onset is 6 years old and one-third of children diagnosed with ADHD retain the diagnosis into adulthood. The disorder affects 11% of American children age 13 to 18 years. Boys are at a higher risk than girls.

Hyperactivity means a person seems to move about constantly or excessively fidgets, taps, and/or talks, including in situations in which it is not appropriate. In adults, it may be extreme restlessness or wearing others out with constant activity.

Impulsivity means a person makes hasty actions in the moment without first thinking about them; these actions may have high potential for harm. In addition, they desire immediate rewards or have an inability to delay gratification. An impulsive person may be socially intrusive and excessively interrupt others or make important decisions without considering the long-term consequences.

Inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity are the key behaviors of ADHD. Some people with ADHD only have problems with one of the behaviors, while others have both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. Most children have the combined type of ADHD.

Signs & Symptoms

It is normal to have some inattention, unfocused motor activity and impulsivity, but for people with ADHD, these behaviors are more severe, occur more often and interfere with or reduce the quality of how they functions socially, at school, or in a job.

Inattention

People with symptoms of inattention may often:

• Overlook or miss details, make careless mistakes in schoolwork, at work, or during other activities
• Have problems sustaining attention in tasks or play, including conversations, lectures, or lengthy reading
• Not seem to listen when spoken to directly
• Not follow through on instructions and fail to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace or start tasks but quickly lose focus and get easily sidetracked
• Have problems organizing tasks and activities, such as what to do in sequence, keeping materials and belongings in order, having messy work and poor time management, and failing to meet deadlines
• Avoid or dislike tasks that require sustained mental effort, such as schoolwork or homework, or for teens and older adults, preparing reports, completing forms or reviewing lengthy papers
• Lose things necessary for tasks or activities, such as school supplies, pencils, books, tools, wallets, keys, paperwork, eyeglasses, and cell phones
• Be easily distracted by unrelated thoughts or stimuli
• Be forgetful in daily activities, such as chores, errands, returning calls, and keeping appointments
• Hyperactivity-Impulsivity

Hyperactivity-impulsivity

People with symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity may often:

• Fidget and squirm in their seats
• Leave their seats in situations when staying seated is expected, such as in the classroom or in the office
• Run or dash around or climb in situations where it is inappropriate or, in teens and adults, often feel restless
• Be unable to play or engage in hobbies quietly
• Be constantly in motion or “on the go,” or act as if “driven by a motor”
• Talk nonstop
• Blurt out an answer before a question has been completed, finish other people’s sentences, or speak without waiting for a turn in conversation
• Have trouble waiting his or her turn
• Interrupt or intrude on others, for example in conversations, games, or activities

Diagnosis of ADHD requires a comprehensive evaluation by a licensed clinician, such as a pediatrician, psychologist, or psychiatrist with expertise in ADHD. For a person to receive a diagnosis of ADHD, the symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity must be chronic or long-lasting, impair the person’s functioning, and cause the person to fall behind normal development for their age. The doctor will also ensure that any ADHD symptoms are not due to another medical or psychiatric condition. Most children with ADHD receive a diagnosis during the elementary school years. For an adolescent or adult to receive a diagnosis of ADHD, the symptoms need to have been present prior to age 12.

ADHD symptoms can appear as early as 3 to 6 and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms of ADHD can be mistaken for emotional or disciplinary problems or missed entirely in quiet, well-behaved children, leading to a delay in diagnosis. Adults with undiagnosed ADHD may have a history of poor academic performance, problems at work, and/or difficult or failed relationships.

ADHD symptoms can change over time as a person ages. In young children with ADHD, hyperactivity-impulsivity may be the most predominant symptom. As a child reaches elementary school, the symptom of inattention may become more prominent and cause the child to struggle academically. In adolescence, hyperactivity seems to lessen and may show more often as feelings of restlessness or fidgeting, but inattention and impulsivity may remain. Many adolescents with ADHD also struggle with relationships and antisocial behaviors. Inattention, restlessness, and impulsivity tend to persist into adulthood.

To learn more about ADHD, go here.

Children’s Mental Health Matters ADHD Fact Sheet