Daniel A. Bochner, Ph.D.

The diagnosis, Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder, or Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (generally referred to as ADHD) is everywhere these days. In some communities it seems almost everyone supposedly has it. The stimulant medications used to treat ADHD are about as commonly prescribed for children as antidepressants are prescribed for adults. Some people think that's all plumb crazy. Some think it's an indication of a runaway rat-race culture where kids need to be stimulated to compete while adults get depressed because competition has replaced connection with others. Without a doubt, there is significant interest in knowing what ADHD really is. It is also extremely common to wonder if you have ADHD or if your children have ADHD.

So, what is ADHD? This disorder, and its variants, involves a consistent deficit, over many settings, in one's ability to focus or pay attention and/or in one’s ability to control their activity level. The person who is afflicted seems unable to concentrate, is often fidgety, or seems to have a need to be fully engaged in activity at all times. It is very important when diagnosing ADHD to be sure the problem occurs in many settings. When doctors see patients who have these behaviors at home, but not at school or at work, or when the problem seems to occur at school or work but not at home, most likely the problem is not ADHD.

One common misunderstanding in the diagnosis of ADHD is that people notice their children focusing in certain ways, even though they cannot focus in almost any other way. Although the diagnosis of ADHD must be a problem in many settings to be diagnosed, there are certain activities that are so stimulating that a person's ability to focus on them does not preclude the diagnosis. Specifically, any activity that involves a screen, such as television, video games, or any kind of computer activity, typically does not pose a problem for a person who has ADHD. People afflicted with ADHD also often have no problem with especially active pastimes, such as sports. Stimulation is the central ingredient for any activity that will not be a problem for the person with ADHD.

In fact, stimulation is really the key to understanding ADHD. ADHD that does exist over many settings is caused by a feeling that the environment is not stimulating enough...

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