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Healthcare Professionals

The information in this section is intended for U.S. Healthcare Professionals Only

ADHD: Cartoon Teens

	Although doctors aren't sure exactly what causes ADHD, it is known to involve certain chemicals in the brain that affect how a person acts, thinks and feels.
	Some people experience problems in the release and use of these chemicals and that's what is believed to cause the symptoms of ADHD.

You are not alone.
About 4 to 12 out of every 100 school-aged children have ADHD in the United States.² You might be surprised to learn of some very famous people who had the disorder. All of the following are believed to have had ADHD: ³

	Thomas Edison
	Babe Ruth
	Eleanor Roosevelt
	Albert Einstein
	Alexander Graham Bell
	Walt Disney
	Ludwig van Beethoven
	Winston Churchill
	Agatha Christie

As you can see, many people with ADHD have led very successful lives.

There are three major types of ADHD symptoms.
Symptoms include:

	Making careless mistakes
	Having trouble listening
	Having trouble finishing tasks
	Having trouble following directions
	Being easily distracted

	Roaming around a room
	Talking excessively
	Having trouble sitting still
	Running around when everyone is supposed to stay seated

	Having a very short temper
	Yelling or hitting
	Frequently interrupting
	Repeatedly blurting out answers

Many people who don't have ADHD behave like this from time to time. For it to be ADHD, the symptoms must be present at a level that makes it hard to function over a long period of time (at least 6 months) and the symptoms must exist in different situations throughout the day (for example, in the classroom, during after school activities and at home).⁴

ADHD treatment usually includes more than one type of help.

	In addition to taking the medication that your doctor has prescribed, there are also other things you can do.
	Many experts believe that medication plus behavioral treatment is the most effective option.⁵

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