Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was first described in 1845 by Dr. Heinrich Hoffman in a collection of poems entitled “The Story of Fidgety Philip.” Since that time, ADHD has been known by several other names including Minimal brain dysfunction, Hyperkinetic disorder, and Attention deficit disorder (ADD). The most current term, ADHD refers to a neurodevelopmental disorder (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-IV-TR) that is defined by the three subtypes of (1) Predominately Inattentive, (2) Predominately Hyperactive-Impulsive, and (3) Combined Type.

ADHD is a highly prevalent disorder. It is estimated that between 3–7% of children within the United States (U.S.) (DSM-IV-TR) and 4% of adults suffer from ADHD. According to parental report data from the 2002 CDC annual National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), approximately 4 million children within the U.S. who are under the age of 18, have been diagnosed with ADHD. Essentially, in a classroom of...