Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood disorders with an estimated 5.4 million diagnosed children in the U.S. Known as both ADD and ADHD, both terms refer to the same condition. While still commonly used in conversation, ADD is the antiquated term for ADHD. In May 2013, the American Psychiatric Association released the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), changing the criteria to diagnose a person with ADHD. While the majority of ADHD symptoms remained the same, the DSM-5 made small changes to how experts can diagnose the disorder that affects approximately 9.5 percent of American children ages 4 to 17, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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ADHD and Its Symptoms
While any child can be fidgety or have trouble paying attention, when these symptoms become a distraction at home or in the classroom, some extra therapy may be needed to control the child. ADHD presents itself with persistent pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, or a combination or all three. |