What is ADHD?

ADHD stands for “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder”. It is a medical condition in which a child displays hyperactive, distractible, impulsive and/or inattentive behaviour which is generally considered not appropriate for children their age.  In layman’s terms, this means that the child has difficulty in paying attention and staying focused on most tasks given to them. They also tend to move around a lot and are very fidgety (making unnecessary fuss).

Hence, it is understandable that a child with ADHD often have problems in school, socializing with their friends, or listening and following their parents’ instructions.

ADHD is regarded as a physical problem, not an emotional one. This is because it is a result of some chemical imbalance in the brain. It is believed that external factors do not cause ADHD. They only affect how the symptoms come to light. Examples of external factors include a difficult family environment, inadequate parenting, divorce or stresses in school.

ADHD has been around for more than a hundred years!

The medical/scientific community still does not have all the answers to it, especially its causes, treatment or even whether it should be classified as a disease. But what is clear is that ADHD, which has become one of the most common psychiatric diagnoses for children in recent years, is actually not a new phenomenon.  In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, there exists an indirect description of ADHD via a poem written by a physician Heinrich Hoffman in 1845. His poem, entitled “The Story of Fidgety Philip” reads:

"Let me see if Philip can  Be a little gentleman;  Let me see if he is able  To sit still for once at table."  Thus Papa bade Phil behave;  And Mamma looked very grave  But fidgety Phil,  He won't sit still  He wriggles,  And giggles,  And then, I declare,  Swings backwards and forwards,  And tilts up his chair,  Just like any rocking horse-  "Philip! I am getting cross!"  See the naughty, restless child  Growing still more rude and wild,  Till his chair falls over quite.  Philip screams with all his might,  Catches at the cloth, but then  That makes matters worse again.  Down upon the ground they fall,  Glasses, plates, knives, forks, and all.  How Mamma did fret and frown,  When she saw them tumbling down!  And Papa made such a face!  Philip is in sad disgrace.  Where is Philip, where is he?  Fairly covered up you see!  Cloth and all are lying on him;  He has pulled down all upon him.  What a terrible to-do!  Dishes, glasses, snapt in two!  Here a knife, and there a fork!  Philip, this is cruel work.  Table all so bare, and ah!  Poor Papa, and poor Mamma  Look quite cross, and wonder how  They shall have their dinner now.

However, it should be noted that over the past century or so, individuals who display symptoms of ADHD are referred to under many different terms, such as Still’s disease, hyperkinesis, minimal brain dysfunction, and postencephalitic disorder.

Next: Click Here to learn the differences between ADHD and ADD.