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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder which affects between 3 and 12% of school-age children and up to 4% of adults. It is a chronic condition that is experienced over a lifetime in varying levels of severity. ADHD was first identified in 1902 by a British physician who described a group of impulsive children with significant behavior problems that could not be blamed on child rearing but rather on a genetic dysfunction. It was called Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) until 1994 when the name was changed to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder as it became clear that the "attention deficit" component was actually a subtype of ADHD. ADHD is characterized by three behavior patterns which were determined by the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), published by the American Psychiatric Association:

• Inattentive - the child has difficulty paying attention to details, has poor organizational skills, and loses things. This type was formerly called ADD. Approximately 10-15% of children have this type of ADHD.
• Hyperactive-Impulsive - the child has difficulty sitting still and runs around, fidgets, talks excessively, acts without thinking ahead of consequences. Approximately 5% of children have this type of ADHD.
• Combination of Inattentive, and Hyperactive-Impulsive - this is the most common form and is thought to affect up to 80% of children with ADHD.

ADHD is the most common psychiatric disorder of childhood and its effects on the child can be seen in many areas of functional impairment, including:

• Difficulties in academic performance in school
• Peer-related social problems
• Higher risk of physical injury, traffic violations, and car accidents
• Higher risk of criminal, law-breaking activity
• Poor judgment
• Increased risk for substance abuse
• Conflict within the family
• Anti-social behavior
• Impaired vocational performance

In general, symptoms tend to be more overt and frequent in settings with high stimulation, such as a classroom or large gathering. The person with ADHD, regardless of age, typically works best in highly focused settings, such as one-on-one, as well as in settings which are structured and in which all instructions and expectations are clearly stated and defined.

The impact on the family of a child with ADHD is also significant and includes:

• Substantial financial cost (treatment, medical appointments, and consequences if ADHD is not treated)
• Family dysfunction
• Social isolation

Children with ADHD are also at higher risk for co-existence of other disorders (comorbidity) such as generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and learning disabilities. Although the mean age at diagnosis is 8-9 years old, symptoms of ADHD can appear in children as young as 3-4 years old. Many symptoms of ADHD tend to decline with age but functional impairment is typically a lifelong condition.