Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) refers to a family of related disorders that interfere with a child's capacity to regulate activity level (hyperactivity), inhibit behavior (impulsivity), and attend to tasks (inattention) at home and at school. It affects an estimated 3 percent to 5 percent of school-age children and can continue into adulthood.

Various genetic and environmental risk factors for ADHD have been identified, though its causes are not yet defined.

There are three main types of ADHD:

• Predominantly inattentive type in which children are overly forgetful about what they have been asked to do, easily distracted, and unable to organize or finish simple tasks.

• Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type, which makes it hard for children to sit still and listen to classmates, teachers or others.

• Combined type, when children have all three symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

ADHD is three times more common in boys than girls, and most boys have predominantly hyperactive-impulsive symptoms.

Children with ADHD tend to have low Self-esteem, emotional and social problems, and are likely to have problems at school. For many individuals, the effect of ADHD continues into adulthood.