Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder that affects 3-5 percent of all American children. It interferes with a person's ability to stay on a task and to exercise age-appropriate inhibition (cognitive alone or both cognitive and behavioral). This research paper will go into the causes and research that is developing in the study of ADHD. This research paper will also go into various treatments and guidelines into understanding and dealing with children with ADHD.
             Attention Deficit Disorders have become a very highly controversial topic during the last decade. Attention Deficit Disorder, also known as ADD, is a broad, almost generic term for the different types of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders. The Diagnostic and Statistical manual of the American Psychiatric Association offers us this definition: "ADHD is a disorder that can include a list of nine specific symptoms of inattention and nine symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity." In addition, the Concise Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia provides this interpretation: "(a) chronic, neurologically based syndrome, characterized by any or all of three types of behavior: hyperactivity, distractibility, and impulsivity. Unlike similar behaviors caused by emotional problems or anxiety, ADHD does not fluctuate with emotional states." About 1–3% of the school-aged population has the full ADHD syndrome, without symptoms of other disorders. Another 5–10% have partial ADHD syndrome with one or more other problems, such as anxiety or depression. (CHADD)
             Gender and age affect the way the patients display their symptoms. Boys are more likely to have the disorder than girls. The symptoms of ADHD usually decrease with age, but those symptoms related with other similar disorders are said to increase with age 30–50% of children with ADHD may display symptoms, although often times less severe, into adulthood. ADHD may be ob...