by Ann E. Smith

Created on: November 22, 2008   Last Updated: January 30, 2009

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder common in young children. It is estimated that there are about two million cases that exist in the United States, which means that one out of every 25-30 children has ADHD.

Generations ago, before ADHD had a clinical name, children with this disorder were probably described as fidgety. Basically, ADHD is a developmental problem in which a child does not properly exhibit or learn impulse control.

Key symptoms of ADHD are impulsivity, inattention and hyperactvity. These symptoms all impact how an ADHD child behaves, relates to others and perceives the world around him.

IMPULSIVITY

All children, and even many adults, can be impulsive at times, when interrupting others or jumping into situations without thinking about the consequences. However, ADHD sufferers take impulsive behavior to an extreme.

A child who is ADHD will be find it difficult to follow rules because he will want to just act according to his impulses, versus having to think before he acts. Likewise, he will not be able to control his impulsive thoughts and words, which can cause him to be difficult to communicate with as he often speaks in choppy ways and struggles to wait his turn to speak.

Due to such behavior, adults will probably tend to scold the child, trying to teach him consequences for not following the rules and proper conversational etiquette. As a result, the ADHD child may perceive that he is always in trouble or misunderstood. He may start to feel a bit of a victim, not recognizing that his mental condition is impairing his ability to act in more appropriate ways.

INATTENTION

Adults frequently remind children to pay attention. However, a child with ADHD may not be able to do so due to his mental condition. ADHD children get distracted easily. They often zone out, or find it hard to actually listen to instructions or lessons in school.

This lack of ability to focus obviously leads to all kinds of problems in school and at home. Adults may think that ADHD children are disobeying them on purpose or not trying hard enough.

ADHD children's lack of focus may make them perceive school as a threatening place, as they are more than likely going to struggle in a normal calassroom setting. They will also think that homework is more difficult as they may have missed the instructions that were provided due to inattention.

Again, ADHD children will believe that adults are tough on them, when in actuality it is their behavior that

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