National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is the National Institute of Mental Health
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Also called: ADHD
Is it hard for your child to sit still? Does your child act without thinking first? Does your child start but not finish things? If so, your child may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Nearly everyone shows some of these behaviors at times, but ADHD lasts more than 6 months and causes problems in school, at home and in social situations.
ADHD is more common in boys than girls. It affects 3-5 percent of all American children.
The main features of ADHD are
- Inattention
- Hyperactivity
- Impulsivity
No one knows exactly what causes ADHD. It sometimes runs in families, so genetics may be a factor. There may also be environmental factors.
A complete evaluation by a trained professional is the only way to know for sure if your child has ADHD. Treatment may include medicine to control symptoms, therapy, or both. Structure at home and at school is important. Parent training may also help.
NIH: National Institute of Mental Health
-
Start Here
-
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Also available in Spanish
-
Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
- What Is AD/HD?(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
-
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
,
Learn More
, and
Multimedia & Cool Tools
.
For group Basics
For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
,
Reference Shelf
, and
For You
.
For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
-
Overviews
-
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- How Do You Know If Your Child Has ADHD?(Food and Drug Administration)
-
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
-
Latest News
- Short-Term Exercise Might Boost Young People's Self-Control(03/07/2013, HealthDay)
- ADHD Can Often Persist into Adulthood(03/04/2013, HealthDay)
- Brains of Fetuses 'Build a Bridge' Between Regions, Images Show(02/20/2013, HealthDay)
-
Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(01/30/2013, HealthDay)
- More News on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
-
Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Symptoms and Diagnosis(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Also available in Spanish
-
Treatment
- ADHD Drugs(Consumers Union of U.S.)
- Also available in Spanish
- ADHD: Treatment(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Managing Medication for Adults with AD/HD(Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Managing Medication for Children and Adolescents with AD/HD(Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) - PDF
- Also available in Spanish
-
Mental Health Medications(National Institute of Mental Health)
- My Child Has Been Diagnosed with ADHD - Now What?(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
-
Stimulant ADHD Medications -- Methylphenidate and Amphetamines(National Institute on Drug Abuse)
- Treatment Options for ADHD in Children and Teens: A Review of Research for Parents and Caregivers(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
-
Alternative Therapy
- Complementary and Alternative Treatments(Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
-
Nutrition
- ADHD Diet: Do Food Additives Cause Hyperactivity?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Your Child's Diet: A Cause and a Cure of ADHD?(American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Return to top
-
Coping
- Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- Parenting a Child with AD/HD(Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
-
Related Issues
- AD/HD and Coexisting Disorders(Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Also available in Spanish
- ADHD & Down Syndrome(National Down Syndrome Society)
- ADHD and the Military(Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Frequently Asked Questions about AD/HD(Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Also available in Spanish
- Helping Children and Youth with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Systems of Care(Center for Mental Health Services) - PDF
- Other Concerns & Conditions(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Return to top
-
Videos
-
Does My Child Have ADHD?(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Return to top
-
Does My Child Have ADHD?
-
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity(National Institutes of Health)
- Return to top
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
-
Research
-
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)(National Institute of Mental Health)
-
Continued Use of Stimulants for ADHD Likely Does Not Increase Risk for Hypertension, but May Affect Heart Rate(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Girls with ADHD at Risk for Self-Injury, Suicide Attempts as Young Adults(American Psychological Association)
-
Multimodal Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Study (MTA): Questions and Answers(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Return to top
-
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
-
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: AAP releases guideline on diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of ADHD.
- Article: Paying attention to ADHD.
- Article: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study evaluating the efficacy, safety,...
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder -- see more articles
- Return to top
-
Directories
- Mental Health Treatment Program Locator(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
- Psychologist Locator(American Psychological Association)
- Return to top
-
Organizations
-
Law and Policy
- Educational Rights for Children with AD/HD(Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
-
Statistics
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder among Children Aged 5-17 Years in the United States, 1998-2009(National Center for Health Statistics)
- Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Data and Statistics(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Emergency Department Visits Involving Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Stimulant Medications(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
- Faststats: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Rate of Parent-Reported ADHD Increasing(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Return to top
-
Children
- ADHD Medicines(Nemours Foundation)
- Kids' Quest: ADHD(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- What Is Hyperactivity?(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
-
Teenagers
- ADHD(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- ADHD in Adolescence(American Academy of Pediatrics)
- ADHD Medications(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
-
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Teens(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Learning Disabilities and ADHD(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
- Return to top
-
Women
- Hidden in Plain Sight: Girls and ADHD(American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Return to top
-
Adults
- ADHD: Not Just for Kids(Food and Drug Administration)
- Adult ADHD (Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
-
Can Adults Have ADHD?(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Social Skills in Adults with AD/HD(Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
-
Patient Handouts
- ADHD(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF - In English and Spanish
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
-
You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
