What is ADD/ADHD?

ADHD is a diagnosis applied to children and adults who consistently display certain characteristic behaviors over a period of time. Common features include:

Distractibility - poor sustained attention to tasks

Impulsivity - impaired impulse control and delay of gratification

Hyperactivity - excess activity and physical restlessness

Depending on the predominate characteristics, ADHD can be broken down into different types - combined type, predominately inattentive type, or predominately hyperactive-impulsive type.

ADD, a term popularized in the media, has become accepted among the general public as well as among professionals as a generic term that encompasses all types of ADHD.