Rowdy,
rambunctious, out-of-control children are nothing new, but when is a child’s
misbehavior something more than that? Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, usually referred
to as ADHD, is a puzzling condition,
a neurobehavioral disorder that’s rather common but surrounded by myths and controversies that often obscure the
facts. Many people deny that the condition even exists, attributing children’s
problems to laziness, a basic desire to act out, an unruly personality or
simply too much sugar. But extensive research has shown that the condition is
real, even if some of its characteristics, fundamental causes and treatment avenues
remain topics of debate.
Practically
every child and even some adults exhibit some of the behaviors associated with ADHD. However, for those who must deal with the
disorder, it can be enormously frustrating and disruptive to everyday life. Although adults can also suffer from ADHD, it’s
commonly linked with children; 3 to
5 percent of American children have it, and the CDC estimates that 4.4 million
children between ages 7 and 14 have been diagnosed
[sources: NIMH,
CDC]. ADHD is a
genetic condition — not something acquired
or caused by life experience or
insufficient parental supervision. It develops gradually in early childhood,
usually by age 7, and occurs more often in boys than girls.
Contrary to some
rumors, ADHD is not a new disorder, nor an amalgamation of disparate symptoms.
In 1845, a doctor named Heinrich Hoffman described the then-unnamed
disorder in a book titled “The
Story of Fidgety Book.” In 1902, Sir
George Frederick Still, a pediatric physician in Britain who later served the royal family, delivered
lectures detailing the condition.
On the next
page, we’ll look at some causes of ADHD and how the brain of an ADHD patient
differs from that of someone without the condition