Does your child have trouble 

paying attention? 

Does he or she talk nonstop or 

have trouble staying still? 

Does your child have a hard time 

controlling his or her behavior? 

For some children, these may be 

symptoms of attention deficit/ 

hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. 

Attention 

 Deficit/

Hyperactivity

 Disorder
Attention Deficit/ 

Hyperactivity Disorder

What is attention deficit/hyperactivity 

disorder, or ADHD?

ADHD is a common childhood disorder, and it may affect 

children differently. It makes it hard for a child to focus 

and pay attention. Some kids may be hyperactive or have 

trouble being patient. ADHD can make it hard for a child 

to do well in school or behave at home. 

ADHD can be treated. Doctors and specialists can help. 

Who can develop ADHD? 

Children of all backgrounds can have ADHD. Teens and 

adults can have ADHD too.

What causes ADHD?

No one knows for sure. ADHD probably comes from a 

combination of things. Some possibilities are:

• Genes, because the disorder sometimes runs in 

families 

• Lead in old paint and plumbing parts 

• Smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy

• Certain brain injuries 

• Food additives like artificial coloring, which might 

make hyperactivity worse. 

Some people think refined sugar causes ADHD. But most 

research does not support the idea that sugar causes ADHD. 
What are the symptoms of ADHD?

ADHD has many symptoms. Some symptoms at first may 

look like normal behaviors for a child, but ADHD makes 

them much worse and occur more often. Children with 

ADHD have at least six symptoms that start in the first 

five or six years of their lives. 

Children with ADHD may:

• Get distracted easily and forget things often

• Switch too quickly from one activity to the next 

• Have trouble with directions

• Daydream too much 

• Have trouble finishing tasks like homework or chores

• Lose toys, books, and school supplies often

• Fidget and squirm a lot

• Talk nonstop and interrupt people

• Run around a lot

• Touch and play with everything they see

• Be very impatient

• Blurt out inappropriate comments

• Have trouble controlling their emotions.

How do I know if my child has ADHD?

Your child’s doctor may make a diagnosis. Or sometimes the 

doctor may refer you to a mental health specialist who is 

more experienced with ADHD to make a diagnosis. There is 

no single test that can tell if your child has ADHD. 

It can take months for a doctor or specialist to know if your 

child has ADHD. He or she needs time to watch your child 

and check for other problems. The specialist may want to 

talk to you, your family, your child’s teachers, and others. 

Sometimes it can be hard to diagnose a child with ADHD 

because symptoms may look like other problems. For 

example, a child may seem quiet and well-behaved, but in 

fact he or she is having a hard time paying attention and 

is often distracted. Or, a child may act badly in school, but 

teachers don’t realize that the child has ADHD. 

If your child is having trouble at school or at home and has 

been for a long time, ask his or her doctor about ADHD.
How do children with ADHD get better?

Children with ADHD can get better with treatment, but 

there is no cure. There are three basic types of 

treatment:

1. Medication. Several medications can help. The most 

common types are called stimulants. Medications help 

children focus, learn, and stay calm. 

Sometimes medications cause side effects, such as sleep 

problems or stomachaches. Your child may need to try a 

few medications to see which one works best. It’s 

important that you and your doctor watch your child 

closely while he or she is taking medicine. 

2. Therapy. There are different kinds of therapy. 

Behavioral therapy can help teach children to control their 

behavior so they can do better at school and at home. 

3. Medication and therapy combined. Many children do 

well with both medication and therapy.

How can I help my child?

Give your child guidance and understanding. A specialist 

can show you how to help your child make positive 

changes. Supporting your child helps everyone in your 

family. Also, talk to your child’s teachers. Some children 

with ADHD can get special education services.
How does ADHD affect teens?

Being a teenager isn’t always easy. Teens with ADHD 

can have a tough time. School may be a struggle, and 

some teens take too many risks or break rules. But like 

children with ADHD, teens can get better with 

treatment. 

What can I do for my teen with ADHD?

Support your teen. Set clear rules for him or her to 

follow. Try not to punish your teen every time he or 

she breaks the rules. Let your teen know you can help. 
Can adults have ADHD too?

Many adults have ADHD and don’t know they have it. 

Like ADHD in children and teens, ADHD in adults can 

make life challenging. ADHD can make it hard for adults 

to feel organized, stick with a job, or get to work on time. 

Adults with ADHD may have trouble in relationships. 

The disorder can also make adults feel restless.

ADHD in adults can be diagnosed and treated. For some 

adults, finding out they have ADHD can be a big relief. 

Being able to connect ADHD to longtime problems helps 

adults understand that they can get better. If you’re an 

adult and think you may have ADHD symptoms, call your 

doctor.

Contact us to find out more about ADHD.

National Institute of Mental Health

Science Writing, Press & Dissemination Branch

6001 Executive Boulevard

Room 8184, MSC 9663

Bethesda, MD 20892-9663

Toll-free: 1–866–615–NIMH (6464)

TTY Toll-free: 1–866–415–8051

E-mail: nimhinfo@nih.gov

Web site: http://www.nimh.nih.gov

National Institutes of Health

NIH Publication No. TR-08-3572