Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (or ADHD) is one of the most frequently occurring childhood psychiatric disorders.
ADHD is broken down into three subtypes, each with its own pattern of behaviors:
With ADHD inattentive type, individuals have excessive:
• difficulty paying attention
• careless mistakes
• problems with organization
• tendency to lose things and
• forgetfulness
Signs of ADHD hyperactive-impulsive type, include:
• fidgeting or squirming
• problems with interrupting or blurting
• excessive talking
• difficulty playing quietly and
• inappropriate running or climbing
Finally, ADHD combined type fits BOTH sets of behaviors.
Of the three, ADHD combined type is the most common, occuring in 61% of ADHD cases.
Noticable symptoms of ADHD usually begin in preschool or early elementary years, and can continue into adolescence and even adulthood. If left untreated, ADHD can have long-term effects on a person's ability to make friends or do well at school or work.
