Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a medical condition that affects people's ability to focus and pay attention.
ADHD is one of the most common childhood psychiatric disorders. It's a condition where children experience problems with attention span, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. While most people think that ADHD only occurs in children, it also occurs in adults.
Children with ADHD often experience difficulties with sustained attention, poor behaviour, and staying within limits. These behaviours can negatively affect their ability to do day-to-day tasks. Symptoms of ADHD may also include difficulty focusing, impulsivity, and poor time and deadline management. Individuals with ADHD often avoid tasks that require sustained mental effort, and they tend to lose or misplace personal and necessary items.
Children and teenagers with ADHD exhibit a wide variety of behaviours, but the most noticeable sign is hyperactivity. While many children are naturally active, children with ADHD try to multitask and often bounce from one activity to the next. They also have difficulty sitting still, playing quietly, or relaxing. A parent may be concerned about a child's lack of focus, but early detection is key to preventing the condition.
When required to perform detailed tasks that required concentration, we all may have trouble if we have had a poor night's sleep. When we are tired or unwell, and our brain isn't as sharp as usually, we can have trouble concentrating and often make careless mistakes. A person with ADHD can feel like this everyday, leading to challenges with certain tasks. This can often be noticeable by teachers in a school environment.
Children with ADHD have difficulty focusing, are easily distracted, and easily forget things. As a general rule, physicians diagnose ADHD when the symptoms significantly hinder the child's ability to adapt to school and home environments.