Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by behavioral and learning disorders & particularly by a persistent pattern of inattention or hyperactivity, as well as forgetfulness, poor impulse control or impulsivity, and distractibility. It is a condition in which it is hard for children to control their behavior and/or pay attention & was first described by Dr. Heinrich Hoffman in the year 1845. While a section of scientific society is contentious about its existence & prefers to call it a ?fictitious disease?; some recent research suggests that ADHD does exist.

This condition becomes apparent in some children in the preschool and early school years. It is one of the most common behavioral disorders in childhood & its prevalence is estimated to be between 5-7 percent & approximately 2 million children in the United States are suspected to have ADHD. About 60% of children diagnosed with ADHD retain the symptoms & as a result, over the past decade, ADHD has been increasingly diagnosed in adults.

Over the last few decades, various theories have been hypothesized about the causes and effects of ADHD some of which have been highlighted below:

Genetics: ADHD has been often found to run in families & various studies indicate that around 25 percent of the close relatives in the families of ADHD children also have ADHD; so there are likely to be genetic influences. By studying the genetic isolates of Paisas of Colombia, researchers have been able to describe specific genetic aspects of ADHD.

Brain Damage: While the majority of ADHD is believed to be genetic in nature, around one-fifth of all ADHD cases were considered to be acquired after conception due to brain injury caused by either toxins or physical trauma prenatally or postnatally. Some children who have suffered accidents leading to brain injury may show some signs of behavior similar to that of ADHD.

Alcohol & Tobacco: Various studies have shown a possible correlation between the use of cigarettes and alcohol during pregnancy and risk for ADHD in the offspring of that pregnancy. This could be related to the fact that nicotine is known to cause lack of oxygen ? hypoxia, in the uterus.

The principal characteristics of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These symptoms appear early in a child's life. Everyone wants his/her kids to graduate from Harvard. But kids are kids after all & many normal children may show these symptoms at one or the other time. Parents shouldn't just hastily assume that as ADHD & force their kids to pop in ADHD drugs impulsively!

So, it is important that the child receive a thorough examination and appropriate diagnosis by a well-qualified professional. Even if a child has ADHD, he/she can achieve his/her full potential by receiving help, guidance, and understanding from parents, friends, counselors, and the public education system!