First described in a poem about a "fidgety" boy by Dr. Heinrich Hoffman in 1845, the syndrome that is today called Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is today widely recognized. The fact that it is a syndrome means that there are a range of conditions that fall into this group, and the slash mark between the texts in the name is a general indicator of how this works.

In the current definition, there are actually digit sets of criteria that ? when practical by a health care professional ? may be institute severally or together, yielding threesome different variants.

In all cases, diagnosis of ADHD assumes that the symptoms appeared before geezer hood 7, appear in multiple settings, are at a level to impair functioning, and are not better explained by another diagnosis. These particular rules help to differentiate ADHD from the minor incidents of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that occasionally become in people who hit no disorder, and also to preclude misdiagnosis with other conditions that hit overlapping symptoms.

Determining the threesome variants works like this:

The first ordered of criteria centers around Inattention. Examples of the types of symptoms include:

* Easily distracted

* Forgetful

* Does not seem to listen

* Often loses things

* Makes "careless" mistakes

Six or more symptoms of inattention that become over instance and at a level that is disruptive and inappropriate is one variant. It is called ADHD ? Predominantly Inattentive Type. This has and is sometimes referred to as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) to distinguish that hyperactivity is not involved, but the term MBD is not included in the current diagnostic criteria (2000 Diagnostic & Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders or DSM-IV-TR).

The second ordered of criteria has digit sections: the first concerns Hyperactivity and the second concerns Impulsivity. Examples of active behaviors include:

* Talks excessively

* When sitting, tends to fidget or squirm

* Does not meet seated when it is expected

Examples of impulsivity include:

* Has trouble inactivity for a turn

* Often interrupts

Six or more symptoms in either of these categories, or both, that become over instance and at a level that is disruptive and inappropriate constitutes the second variant. It is called ADHD - Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type. If both sets of criteria are met over time, then the third diagnosis, ADHD - Combined Type is given.