Primer text from The College of William & Mary
ADHD is one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions of children (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2015).
In a 2016 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, scientists found that 6.1 million children aged 2-17 years living in the U.S. had been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is similar to previous estimates.
- Ages 2-5: Approximately 388,000 children
- Ages 6-11: Approximately 2.4 million children
- Ages 12-17: Approximately 3.3 million children
The diagnostic term attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) refers to individuals who display patterns of inattention, impulsivity, and overactive behavior that interfere with daily functioning (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013).
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) V (APA, 2013) criteria for diagnosing ADHD list
three types of ADHD and the accompanying characteristics.
Predominantly inattentive type.
The student may:
o submit inaccurate or incomplete work,
o have difficulty attending to conversations, activities, or tasks,
o be easily distracted,
o have difficulty following directions,
o frequently lose materials, and/or
o have difficulty organizing tasks and materials.
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