Studies have shown that around 5% of the children are affected with ADHD. The prevalence reduces to 2.5% in adulthood. The symptoms of ADHD may start appearing as early as toddler stage of the child. It consists of 3 key features – Inattention, Hyperactivity and Impulsivity. The symptoms must be present in atleast 2 different settings (Home or School or with friends or relatives).

Common presenting symptoms are:

– Inattention. The child may make careless mistakes very often. He/she may often do not complete his/her work in school, like copying from the board.The child may often seem like he is not listening when ever he is spoken to directly.He/she may often lose his belongings at school or other places (pens, books, notebooks). The child may be easily distracted by other external things when he is engaged in some activity. The child may not be able to do tasks or engage in activities which require sustained attention, like reading long paragraphs, doing homework; or he may avoid such activities.

– Hyperactivity and Impulsivity. The child may not sit at one place for long when he is expected to sit at one place, like at school; or he may often move his body, tap his legs or arms while sitting. He appears to be always on the go, does not sit for completing any task till the end and often appears to be running around. The child may not wait for his turn while playing, or does not wait for completing the question and blurts out answers beforehand. The child may also appear to talk excessively.

For the diagnosis of ADHD, these all symptoms should be of such severity that it interferes with the quality of social, academic or occupational functioning.