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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder—ADHD—is a brain-based disorder that affects about one in ten school-aged children. Symptoms continue into adulthood for more than half of those who have it in childhood. People who have ADHD have higher levels of inattention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity than their peers.
Executive function often is generally impaired when individuals have ADHD. This affects their ability to organize, plan, and manage thoughts and actions. They may have difficulty completing tasks or forget important things and may not consider the long-term consequences of their actions.
Symptoms
Frequently, ADHD symptoms are first noticed in early childhood. They can sometimes be hard to tell apart from the impulsivity, inattentiveness, and active behavior typical for children under the age of four. For this reason, diagnosis is usually made when a child is five or older. Children need to exhibit six or more symptoms for a diagnosis; older teens and adults should have at least five of the symptoms. Symptoms can change over time. For most people, ADHD persists in some form from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood, although when present, hyperactivity tends to decrease over time.
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