Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder IntroductionAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), often called childhood hyperactivity, is a serious and chronic disorder that affects children. It is one of the most widespread childhood disorders and affects 3% to 5% of the school-age population. Boys outnumber girls three or more to one. Children with ADHD can experience many behavioral difficulties that often manifest themselves in the form of inattention, easily distracted, impulsiveness and hyperactivity. As a result, children with ADHD may develop emotional, social, developmental, academic, and family problems due to the frustrations and problems they constantly experience. Families who have children with ADHD often experience much higher levels of anxiety and stress. A large number of children, almost half, will show signs of ADHD by age four. However, most children are not diagnosed until they reach elementary school. Behaviors associated with ADHD in children put them at risk for a variety of other problems and complications such as school completion, alcohol and other drug abuse, and an increased risk of delinquency. There has been a lot of research done on ADHD in recent years, and many different types of medications and interventions have proven to be very helpful. With proper diagnosis and treatment, children with ADHD can learn to cope with the daily demands of the classroom, social situations, family interactions, and life in general. Therefore, it is imperative that teachers, administrators, and school counselors become familiar with the Characteristics of children with ADHD. It is also essential that they know how to carry out an adequate assessment to diagnose ADHD and that they learn intervention strategies for children, together with their families. The child needs to have a ?team? of caring people who work with them to help them overcome and deal with ?obstacles? that living with ADHD can entail. This article will address four key areas of ADHD. They include: causes of ADHD, characteristics of ADHD, classroom intervention, and parent intervention. We will also discuss key medications used to treat ADHD. Causes of ADHD When parents are told that their child has ADHD, it is natural that their first response is to want to know what caused this disorder. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. For years, researchers have tried to find the underlying cause of ADHD, but they have yet to find a definitive explanation. Although several theories exist to try to explain the causes of ADHD, most experts agree that it is most likely not a single cause. cause, but instead a combination of factors that causes ADHD.