What is ADHD/ADD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a well-defined and widely accepted medical condition. It is not a fancy label for naughty children or bad parents. All children misbehave sometimes and no parent is perfect.
The cause is unknown. However it is known that:
- ADHD tends to run in families
- The brains of people with ADHD are different from those of other people. Specific areas of the brain show differences in structure, metabolism and chemistry
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is characterised primarily by inattention, being easily distracted, disorganisation, procrastination and forgetfulness. It is often overlooked and not diagnosed until children are in their teens and struggling at school.
Children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are not overly active and they do not disrupt the class or other activities. However, strategies used for children with ADHD are often effective for children with ADD.
ADHD is common
As many as 1 in 20 children may have ADHD. Many of these have not seen a doctor and have therefore not been diagnosed. It is four times more common in boys than girls.