Behavioral problem characterized by difficulty with inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, and boredom

The most common neurobehavioral disorder of childhood

Difficult to diagnose before age 4 or 5; some patients not diagnosed until adulthood

Varied symptoms

Occurs in 3% to 5% of school-age children

Affects males three to four times more commonly than females

Also called ADHD and ADD

Alleles of dopamine genes may alter dopamine transmission in the neural networks.

During fetal development, bouts of hypoxia and hypotension may selectively damage neurons located in some of the critical regions of the anatomical networks.

Exact cause unknown

Believed to have genetic and neurobiological causes

Risk factors may include a family history of ADHD, history of learning disability, or a mood or conduct disorder

Some studies indicating that it may result from altered neurotransmitter levels in the brain

Impulsive behavior

Inattentiveness

Disorganization in school

Tendency to jump quickly from one partly completed project, thought, or task to another

Difficulty meeting deadlines and keeping track of school or work tools and materials

Symptoms of inattention