ADD ADHD Information

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also called "ADHD", is one of the most common childhood behavior disorders. Of all children referred to mental health professionals, more are referred for ADHD than for any other condition. Those with ADHD have problems in most of the areas of their life, including home, school, work, and in relationships.

What is ADHD?

"Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" is a neurological disorder that impacts individuals in four main categories:

• Attention - causing people to have problems paying attention, focusing on a task, or finishing tasks, especially if they are not very interesting tasks.
• Impulsivity - causing a lack of self-control. Impulsive behaviors, or choices, can cause havoc in relationships, work, school, or life.
• Hyperactivity - Many (though not all) with ADHD are "bouncy" and hyperactive, always "on the go" and restless.
• Easily Bored - Unless the task is very stimulating, like a video game or TV program or outside playing, those with attention disorders are often easily bored by a task - especially bored by homework, math tests, balancing checkbooks, or doing taxes, and many of these tasks just never get done.

Children, teens, and adults can all suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

"Attention Deficit" impacts about 5% of the children and teenagers, and about 3% of all adults. Less than half of children with ADD ever "out-grow" it in adolescence or adulthood. If untreated, the disorder can have long-term adverse effects into adolescence and adulthood.

The disorder has different "looks" or "types." This is discussed in great detail under the section the different types of ADHD.

For some it severely impacts behavior, and for others it greatly impacts learning. For the group in the middle, it just impacts their attention, focus, concentration, and getting the job done.

ADHD Help

But there is help! In fact, there are several good treatment interventions to help overcome ADHD, and we want you to learn about all of them.

We have nearly 200 pages of information on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder here at the ADD ADHD Information Library organized into over 15 "books" or sections. Look around and learn about the new ideas in treatment, see the new sections for parents and grandparents, and read our weekly articles and blogs. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to have the weekly articles send right to you via email for your convenience.

In this first section you will discover general information on "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder" to give you a working understanding of it in children, teens, and adults.

Be sure to visit all of our sections and take a tour of our comprehensive ADHD Library!