ADHD Classification

Attention-deficit hyperactive disorder, otherwise known as ADHD is a common and often relentless disorder in children. Nearly 3%-5% of elementary aged children are diagnosed with this disorder. Children with ADHD have behavioral problems including being hyperactive, easily distracted and impulsive, causing problems emotionally, academically, and socially. Being one of the most common disorders in childhood, ADHD has more studies published on it and its variations than any other childhood disorder. Much is still unknown about ADHD.
The proper classification of ADHD is still undecided, however, over the past 60 years there have been any different terms used to describe the disorder. A few include: minimal brain dysfunction, Attention deficit Disorder and Hyperkinetic Impulse Disorder. ADHD’s classification can become complicated when scientific research suggests that different behaviors are directly connected to ADHD, yet different research suggests that these behaviors need to be classified independently as ADHD.
The defining characteristics of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Inattention means lacking attention. A child with symptoms of inattention may have trouble listening and following directions or staying organized. Hyperactivity describes when a child is unusually and effortlessly excited. Short attention span and strong emotions describe a person who is hyperactive. And finally, impulsivity is when a person carries out a behavior without prior thought of the consequences. Impulsivity can be behavior, as in the things a person does, or cognitive, as in the way a person thinks and makes choices. A child with ADHD may experience difficulties at home, school, and with friends. At home a child may have trou...

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...ed. The drug and alcohol rates are slightly higher with adolescents with ADHD. The lack of co morbidity and family conflict in a child’s life tends to help them function better in adolescents.
The main subtypes of ADHD are distinct. Research shows that it is possible they have different etiologies and responses to treatment. Keeping in mind that there is a significant overlap with learning disorders, compliance disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD by itself without co morbidity is being studied hoping to provide more information than the co morbid diagnosis. The specific and current definition of ADHD could possibly be unnecessary because of the two distinct disorders that occur with the disorder. Children that show early symptoms of ADHD can have different outcomes depending on the arrangement, age of onset, persistency, and severity of risk factors.