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II. ADHD Information
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a medical disorder associated with the balance of chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain.
While researchers continue to investigate the exact cause of ADHD, scientific studies suggest that it is related to disturbances in the transmission of the brain chemical called dopamine and, to a lesser extent, another chemical in the brain called norepinephrine.
People with ADHD have difficulty paying attention, staying still and controlling their impulses.
Because there is no one test that identifies ADHD, doctors must uncover the disorder by looking at certain patterns of behavior. While clinical studies using brain imaging technologies have shown differences in the brains of people with ADHD, such technology is not a common diagnostic tool.
Although there is no genetic test for ADHD, the disorder's tendency to run in families has led researchers to believe that genetics may also play a role.
Studies show that between 4%-12% of U.S. school-aged children have ADHD, which is about 4 million kids in all.13
About half of those who need medication to control their ADHD when they are children no longer need it when they are adults. However, ADHD symptoms may continue into the teenage years and adulthood.
It is estimated that 40% to 80% of children with ADHD still meet the diagnostic criteria in adolescence, and some continue to meet the criteria in late adolescence and young adulthood.
