Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) A general psychiatric
syndrome characterized by a child's displaying developmentally inappropriate
lack of attention, excessive motor activity, and a lack of impulse control. The
term Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is used with children who show problems
only with impulse control and/or attention deficits and are not overactive.
This is a common disorder and frequently results in
behavior and/or performance problems in the school setting. Typically the
hyperactivity diminishes as the child reaches middle school, but the attentional
difficulties and impulsiveness often persist until the late teenage or early
adult years. This disorder has had previous names, such as hyperkinesis,
hyperactive syndrome, hyperkinetic
syndrome of
childhood, and minimal brain dysfunction.