It is important to note that children are generally more inattentive and hyperactive than even adolescents or adults. Also, there is normal variability among children: Some are generally more hyperactive, inattentive, and impulsive than others. In all cases it is important to consider whether or not a child is exhibiting behavior appropriate to his or her age. Keep in mind that it is normal for kids to appear inattentive when things they are not naturally interested in are occurring (for example, a lecture). Many children find it difficult to endure long periods of sitting or organized activity. As a result, some children appear “hyperactive” or “impulsive” when bored and restless are more accurate descriptions. Conversely parents may be reluctant to accept a diagnosis of inattentiveness or hyperactivity because there are a few tasks that their child will concentrate on intensely (e.g. video games, a specific hobby). This is in fact a hallmark symptom of ADHD and does not rule-out the diagnoses. When the child′s hyperactivity, distractibility, poor concentration, or impulsivity begins to affect performance in school, social relationships with other children or behavior at home, ADHD may be the cause.

Children with ADHD are not likely to simply “outgrow” the problem. These symptoms are believed to be due to brain differences.⁴ Symptoms may improve over time as children and their families receive treatment or develop tools on their own to cope with this disorder. Regardless of the treatment you decide upon, the most important thing is to take action. Children who remain untreated for ADHD are more likely than those who go untreated to suffer additional problems of depression and substance abuse in adolescence and adulthood, and in fact children who receive medication treatment for ADHD are at a reduced risk for substance abuse compared to those children and adolescents who are untreated.³

Complete the ADHD Symptom Checklist, but keep in mind that only a trained professional can make a proper diagnosis. Also keep in mind ADHD symptoms must be displayed in two settings (for example, home and school.)

How Common is ADHD?

Surveys suggest that between three and five percent of children have ADHD, which means that in a classroom of 25 to 30 children, it is likely that at least one will have ADHD.¹ Boys are more likely than girls to have ADHD.² However, the estimated ratio of boys to girls with ADHD ranges from 3:1 to 9:1. ²

• ¹National Institutes of Mental Health (2003). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Revised. Retrieved 4/10/06
• ²Pelham, W. E., & Waschbusch, D. A. (2006). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In J. E. Fisher & W. O'Donohue (Eds.). Practitioner's guidelines for evidence based psychotherapy. New York0: Kluwer.
• ³Biederman, J., Wilens, T., Dagger, M.E., Spencer, T. & Faraone, S. V. (1999). Pharmacotherapy of Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Reduces Risk for Substance Use Disorder. PEDIATRICS , 104, e20.
• ⁴Volkow, et al. (2009). Evaluating Dopamine Reward Pathway in ADHD. JAMA, 302, 1084-1091.