ADHD

History of ADHD/ADD

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD/ADD is considered to be a developmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to concentrate on tasks, avoid distractions, to sit still, and to think about the consequences before they act. ADHD is the most common behavioral disorder in school-aged children. Approximately 3% to 7% of school-aged children have ADHD. The number of boys having ADHD is much higher than the number of girls. The ratio is 9 boys to 1 girl.

Years ago ADHD/ADD went untreated and undiagnosed. Up until 1994, the inattentive symptom of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) wasn’t noticed as a portion of ADHD. In 1980 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD was named ADD and had only two subtypes, one with hyperactivity and one without. Today there are three subtypes; Hyperactive-Impulsive, Inattentive, and a Combined type. Later, when researchers closely studied children that didn’t have hyperactivity, they saw that they were not as impulsive, not as hyperactive, and less aggressive. They were likely to be shy, withdrawn socially, and inactive.

The names for ADHD have been changed over the years.

These are examples:

Hyperkinesis

Brain Damaged Syndrome

Minimal Brain Dysfunction (MBD)

Hyperkinetic Impulsive Disorder

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

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