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What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a neurodevelopmental disorder. ADHD is often characterized by issues with attention span, controlling behavior, and hyperactivity. While an exact cause for ADHD has not yet been discovered, scientists and doctors believe there are genetic and physiological elements involved in the development of ADHD. As far as diagnosis goes, ADHD is a prevalent diagnosis in early childhood up until adolescence, but some may not find out until their adulthood. Due to the growing rates of citizens diagnosed with ADHD, worries have risen that the process used for diagnosing is too broad and that some symptoms of this disorder can be reduced to natural human behavior. Nonetheless, several treatments have been developed over the past few decades, such as medication, therapy, and other daily activities and habits (“ADHD”).

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ADHD is the most common childhood diagnosis, affecting around 3 to 5 percent of children, and is three times more prevalent in boys. Though there is not one unique way to evaluate or test for this disorder, doctors often ask for information from a patient's parents and teachers. This information may include any symptoms, school history, behavior, other related conditions, etc. This type of knowledge is incredibly useful when it comes to an ADHD diagnosis because it often lets the doctor know what prompted the desire for an evaluation. In fact, schools are federally mandated to execute sufficient evaluation if there is concern about a disability that alters academic development. The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) ensures adequate services and public education for all disabled children 3 to 21 years old, and in 1997, ADHD was listed as a qualifying condition for these services (“Attention Deficit”).

According to Russell Barkley, Ph.D., a clinical professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, “There are anywhere from 25 to 45 genes that are considered high-candidate genes for ADHD, but there are several we’re reliably sure of, and some of those are the genes related to dopamine regulation in the brain.” Emotions, behaviors, and overall functions are all controlled by neurotransmitters. Certain dopamine receptors may have distinct differences that increase one’s chances of developing ADHD. People who suffer from mood swings/instability, inattention, and other well-known symptoms of ADHD often have low levels of dopamine in their brains. This can be caused by certain genes that prevent the brain’s ability to absorb or effectively metabolize dopamine. Additionally, those with ADHD may suffer from instability in dopamine transporter proteins, which decrease the availability of dopamine ("Is ADHD").