1.
What Is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
In 1998 the National Institutes of Mental Health agreed
that attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is
indeed a legitimate psychologic condition even though its
definition has not been fully pinned down. ADHD is a syndrome
generally characterized by inattention, distractibility,
impulsivity, and hyperactivity. It is further categorized
into three subtypes: behavior marked by hyperactivity and
impulsivity but not inattentiveness; behavior that is marked
by the reverse characteristics; and a mixed type. Some experts
are concerned that these refinements may increase the diagnosis
in children who may simply be aggressive. No laboratory
or imaging test has yet detected specific abnormalities
that might make a diagnosis of ADHD clearer. In addition,
although, according to the criteria, ADHD is not diagnosed
in people whose symptoms appear after age seven, some studies
show that the disorder, particularly the subtype marked
by inattentiveness, can first show up in older children
and adolescents. Defining ADHD is made more difficult because
it is often accompanied by learning disabilities and other
neurologic or emotional problems. It is likely that, eventually,
the term attention deficit hyperactivity disorder will give
way to subgroups of problems that include some of these
general symptoms.
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© 2003 The Kids Clinic
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