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org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder
It is characterized by difficulty paying attention, excessive activity, and acting without regards to
consequences, which are otherwise not appropriate for a person's age.
Some individuals with ADHD also display difficulty regulating emotions or problems with executive
function.
For a diagnosis, the symptoms should appear before a person is twelve years old, be present for more
than six months, and cause problems in at least two settings (such as school, home, or recreational
activities).
In children, problems paying attention may result in poor school performance.
Additionally there is an association with other mental disorders and substance misuse.
Although it causes impairment, particularly in modern society, many people with ADHD can
have sustained attention for tasks they find interesting or rewarding (known as hyperfocus).
In adults inner restlessness rather than hyperactivity may occur.
They often develop coping skills which make up for some or all of their impairments.
Symptoms
Inattention
• difficulty paying close attention to details
• has trouble holding attention on tasks
• has trouble organizing tasks and activities
• loses things necessary for tasks
• appears forgetful in daily activities
• has a shorter attention span and is easily distracted
• difficulty with structured schoolwork
• difficulty completing tasks that are tedious or time-consuming
ADHD is divided into three subtypes: predominantly inattentive (ADHD-PI or ADHD-I),
predominantly hyperactive-impulsive (ADHD-PH or ADHD-HI), and combined type (ADHD-C).[2]
[55]
A person with ADHD inattentive type has most or all of following symptoms, excluding situations
where these symptoms are better explained by another psychiatric or medical condition:[2][56]
• Be easily distracted, miss details, forget things, and frequently switch from one activity to
another
• Have difficulty maintaining focus on one task
• Become bored with a task after only a few minutes, unless doing something they find
enjoyable
• Have difficulty focusing attention on organizing or completing a task
• Have trouble completing or turning in homework assignments, often losing things (e.g.,
pencils, toys, assignments) needed to complete tasks or activities
• Appear not to be listening when spoken to
• Daydream, become easily confused, and move slowly
• Have difficulty processing information as quickly and accurately as others
• Struggle to follow instructions
• Have trouble understanding details; overlooks details
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder predominantly inattentive
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Examples of Observed Symptoms for Adults
• Procrastination; delaying or avoiding starting projects that require vigilant mental effort
• Difficulty sustaining concentration on conversations or briefly losing attention on someone
speaking
• Hesitation to sustain concentration in planning and organizing for the completion of tasks
• Hesitative responses, doubt, and delayed execution due to inattention remembering information
• Difficulty finishing projects or completing assignments because many tasks are simultaneously
on the go
• Forgetting to complete tasks and details after temporarily switching to more stimulating tasks
• Difficulty finding misplaced tools after task switching due to bypassing adequate memory
storage
• Sustained information processing is slower than others causing information gaps that inhibit
execution
• Problems remembering appointments, obligations, or instructions
• Difficulty learning new projects when concentration deficits cause desire to multitask or
daydream
• Distracted from persevering during work; difficulty holding onto a job for a significant amount
of time
• Changing plans, to the inconvenience of others, due to forgetting or not fully aware of the
bigger scenario
• Maintaining excessive personal items such as storing old items of diminished usefulness
• Obsessive behavior as compensation or coping mechanism for a perseverance deficit
• Difficulty transitioning to new task or activity due to obsessive behavior
• Higher rate of vigilant concentration fatigue after inhibiting many distractions from greater
effort required
Self-esteem
In some cases, children who enjoy learning may develop a sense of fear when faced with structured or
planned work, especially long or group-based assignments that require extended focus, even if they
thoroughly understand the topic. Children with ADHD may be at greater risk of academic failures
and early withdrawal from school.[25] Teachers and parents may make incorrect assumptions
about the behaviors and attitudes of a child with ADHD-PI, and may provide them with frequent
and erroneous negative feedback (e.g. "careless", "you're irresponsible", "you're immature",
"you're lazy", "you don't care/show any effort", "you just aren't trying", etc.).
The inattentive children may realize on some level that they are somehow different internally from their
peers. However, they are also likely to accept and internalize the continuous negative feedback,
creating a negative self-image that becomes self-reinforcing. If these children progress into
adulthood undiagnosed or untreated, their inattentiveness, ongoing frustrations, and poor self-
image frequently create numerous and severe problems maintaining healthy relationships,
succeeding in postsecondary schooling, or succeeding in the workplace. These problems can
compound frustrations and low self-esteem, and will often lead to the development of secondary
pathologies including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and substance abuse.[25]
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
ADHD predominantly inattentive type (ADHD-PI) presents with symptoms including being
easily distracted, forgetful, daydreaming, disorganization, poor concentration, and difficulty
completing tasks.
People with ADHD of all ages are more likely to have problems with social skills, such as social
interaction and forming and maintaining friendships. This is true for all subtypes. About half of
children and adolescents with ADHD experience social rejection by their peers compared to 10–15% of
non-ADHD children and adolescents. People with attention deficits are prone to having difficulty
processing verbal and nonverbal language which can negatively affect social interaction. They also
may drift off during conversations, miss social cues, and have trouble learning social skills.[58]
Difficulties managing anger are more common in children with ADHD[59] as are poor handwriting
and delays in speech, language and motor development.[61][62] Although it causes significant
difficulty, many children with ADHD have an attention span equal to or better than that of other
children for tasks and subjects they find interesting
The executive function impairments that occur in ADHD individuals result in problems with
staying organized, time keeping, excessive procrastination, maintaining concentration, paying
attention, ignoring distractions, regulating emotions, and remembering details.
Due to the rates of brain maturation and the increasing demands for executive control as a person gets
older, ADHD impairments may not fully manifest themselves until adolescence or even early
adulthood.[71]
ADHD has also been associated with motivational deficits in children.[147] Children with ADHD
often find it difficult to focus on long-term over short-term rewards, and exhibit impulsive
behavior for short-term rewards.
Diet
Main article: Diet and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
A 2016 review stated that the use of a gluten-free diet as standard ADHD treatment is not advised. A
2017 review showed that a few-foods elimination diet may help children too young to be medicated or
not responding to medication, while free fatty acid supplementation or decreased eating of artificial
food coloring as standard ADHD treatment is not advised.[213]
Chronic deficiencies of iron, magnesium and iodine may have a negative impact on ADHD
symptoms.
There is a small amount of evidence that lower tissue zinc levels may be associated with ADHD.[215]
In the absence of a demonstrated zinc deficiency (which is rare outside of developing countries), zinc
supplementation is not recommended as treatment for ADHD.[216] However, zinc supplementation
may reduce the minimum effective dose of amphetamine when it is used with amphetamine for the
treatment of ADHD.[217] There is evidence of a modest benefit of omega 3 fatty acid supplementation,
but it is not recommended in place of traditional medication.[218][219]
Medication
The British guideline only recommends medications as a first-line treatment in children who have
severe symptoms and for medication to be considered in those with moderate symptoms who either
refuse or fail to improve with counseling, though for adults medications are a first-line treatment
