In 1998, the National Institutes of Mental Health agreed that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is indeed a legitimate psychological condition, even if its definition has not been fully defined. ADHD is a syndrome generally characterized by the following symptoms that first appear before the age of seven: Inattention, Distractibility, Impulsivity, Hyperactivity. Some experts further classify ADHD into three subtypes: Behavior marked by hyperactivity and impulsivity, but not inattention. marked by inattention, but not by hyperactivity and impulsivity. A mixed type. There are some problems with these criteria, and arguments exist for both overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of this problem. Defining ADHD is made particularly difficult because a third of cases are accompanied by learning disabilities and other neurological or emotional problems. It is likely that the term attention deficit hyperactivity disorder will eventually give way to subgroups of problems that include some of these general symptoms. [For more details, see How is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosed? below.]General description of a child with ADHDStudies now indicate that ADHD can be diagnosed in children as young as four years old. Parents may notice symptoms even earlier. (One mother reported that three days after giving birth, nurses called her ADHD son "Wild Willie.") The classic symptoms of ADHD, inattention, distractibility, impulsivity and hyperactivity, often do not describe adequately the child's behavior, nor describe what is really going on in the child's mind. Other behaviors also often coincide with classic symptoms. Some experts focus on deficits in the brain's "executive functions" as the key to understanding all ADHD behaviors. Such impaired executive functions may include the following: Inability to retain information in short-term memory. Impaired organizational and planning skills. Difficulty establishing and using these goals to guide behavior, such as selecting strategies and monitoring tasks. Inability to stop emotions from becoming overwhelming. Inability to move effectively from one mental activity to another. Hyperactivity. The term hyperactive is often confusing to those who expect to observe a child running constantly. Boy with ADHD plays... middle of paper ...... this coincides with short-term memory problems.) In one study, although children with probable ADHD were able to report experiencing many symptoms of ADHD themselves, they tended to believe that they were using their time wisely, contrary to their teacher's reports. Lack of adaptability. Children with ADHD have a hard time adjusting to even minor changes in routine, such as getting up in the morning, putting on shoes, eating new foods, or going to bed. Any change in a situation can precipitate a loud and loud negative response. Even when they are in a good mood, they may suddenly become angry if faced with an unexpected change or frustration. In one experiment, children with ADHD were able to narrowly focus their attention when directed directly to a specific location, but they had difficulty shifting their attention to another location. Hypersensitivity and sleep problems. Children with ADHD are often hypersensitive to sights, sounds, and touch, and.