ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. ADD stands for Attention deficit Disorder. These disorder names cover a group of behaviors that children or adults can have. The main problems it causes is in focusing and concentrating, also paying attention. These people seem to be a lot more active and/or impulsive than their peers. Problems in relationships as well as learning can result from this behavior. A lot of kids are misdiagnosed as problem children, when they have ADHD, as it starts in childhood.

ADHD causes deficits in executive function: the ability to complete tasks, plan and think ahead, control impulses, organize, and follow through. You can help your child in learning to acquire these executive skills on their own by having a positive attitude and common sense. Common sense will tell you which behaviors to work on the most, when to negotiate and when to stand firm, and how to head off problems before they start. A positive attitude will help you see the small, praiseworthy successes that can add up to permanent improvement in your child's behavior.

The symptoms:There are two main categories: Inattention and Hyperactivity. A inattentive child/adult will have the following symptoms:very easily distracted, often make careless mistakes in school or at work, might neglect to pay attention to details, will often start off strong on a task but then fail to complete it, trouble following directions and often forget things, procrastinators, might have difficulty with housework/remembering paying bills, difficulty sleeping, as their mind is occupied by too many thoughts, they become frustrated easily, have emotional outbursts, and frequent mood swings, seems disorganized, is easily distracted.

Hyperactivity symptoms are:Can't sit still, moves hands and feet, fidgety, very impulsive behavior, having trouble listening/paying attention to others, children have trouble playing quietly, difficulty waiting in line / waiting for their turn, runs or climbs inappropriately, blurts out answers, interrupts people, talk too much, is always on the go. A child must exhibit these behaviors for at least three months to be diagnosed correctly.

"Clinical judgment" is used to diagnose ADHD. This is a process where a doctor asks questions about the patient's symptoms and factors in their life. In order to be diagnosed as ADHD, the symptoms must fit into the category of ADHD only, no other disorders. There are no lab tests to confirm the diagnosis of ADHD, so this is the only method of determining the disorder.

The information is usually collected from parents and teachers, since they are closest to them. This is a behavioral condition, so the patient's behavior has to be evaluated. Teachers are questioned because children act differently at school than at home. The diagnosis is more accurate when data is collected from both parents and teachers. If they disagree, the doctor should look for a different diagnosis.

Another way for the doctor to conclude a diagnosis for ADHD is to let the parents fill out questionnaires. One kind of questionnaires ask about symptoms, another about medical and psychological problems. With the information from the questionnaires and the parents / teachers there should be a third evaluation: a precise interview about the medical history and a physical exam of the patient. Make sure the doctor has the most complete information to enable him to make an accurate diagnose of ADHD.