There are some children who chronically daydream. They are often very bright, but they have trouble attending to any one topic for very long. They are full of energy and have trouble staying put. They can be quite impulsive in saying or doing whatever comes to mind, and they find distractions impossible to resist (Hallowell 1994). About 15 million Americans have it today; most of them do not know that they have it. The condition occurs in children and adults, men and women, boys and girls, and it cuts across all ethnic groups, socioeconomic strata, levels of education, and degrees of intelligence. Only about one third of the population outgrows it; two thirds have it throughout adulthood (Hallowell 1994). The "it" being referred to is ADHD, which stands for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
             It is estimated that three to five percent of U.S. school-age children are affected by ADHD. In whichever way ADHD is defined, it is clear that more boys than girls are affected, by ratios estimated at 3:1. Many researchers believe that a greater inherent risk, perhaps related to brain biochemistry or structure, exist for males (Woodrich, 2000). It is estimated, also, that approximately three percent of children in the U.S. have a learning disability and do not have ADHD. Among children with ADHD, the percentage jumps to as high as thirty-five percent by some estimates. This information has lead certain experts in this field to believe that ADHD is not considered a learning disability but is an added condition in children as well as adults who have a learning disability or vice versa (Woodrich, 2000).
             There are also many myths surfacing about this condition. People tend to assume their own thoughts about ADHD and refuse to further their sources by consulting a medical professional. These are some very common myths that people tend to assume about ADHD:
             · ADHD is a single disorder that appears with nea...