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1. It is estimated that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), also known as attention deficit disorder (ADD) when present without hyperactivity, affects five to eight percent of school-aged children.

2. Follow-up studies of children with ADHD find that a majority will continue to suffer impairments through adolescence and adulthood. Many girls and women suffer the effects of ADHD and do not get the help they need.

3. Once diagnosed, many women recall painful or difficult childhood experiences in school that were likely caused by ADHD, but at the time were attributed to laziness or lack of ability. Low-self esteem is the outcome of chronic criticism and common among women with ADHD.

4. ADHD, once called hyperkinesis or minimal brain dysfunction, is the most common psychiatric condition among children. Two to four times more boys than girls are affected. On average, at least one child in every classroom in the U.S. needs help for the disorder.

5. ADHD can be mild, moderate or severe. An ADHD diagnosis is more difficult to identify in women and girls because they tend to be less hyperactive, less defiant and more compliant. The absence of disruptive behavior can delay identification of ADHD in girls.

6. ADHD has a strong genetic component. The persistence of ADHD in the parent increases the likelihood that the child with ADHD will have persistent symptoms into adulthood. Still, as with other conditions with a strong genetic liability, the quality of life and providing strong parenting and quality schooling can greatly influence any long-term outcomes.

7. Like all chronic medical conditions, there are no cures for ADHD. Many experts believe that the most significant, long-lasting gains occur when medication is combined with behavioral therapy, counseling and practical support. Some studies suggest that the combination of medicine and therapy may be more effective than medications alone, especially when other co-existing psychiatric conditions occur (i.e., depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders or substance abuse).

8. Medication can help to control the core symptoms, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. But more often, there are other aspects of the problem that medication can't touch. Even though ADHD primarily affects a person's behavior and cognition, having the disorder has broad emotional repercussions.

9. Common symptoms of ADHD can include:

   • failing to give close attention to details or making careless mistakes

   • difficulty sustaining attention to tasks

   • appearing not to listen when spoken to directly

   • failing to follow instructions carefully and completely

   • losing or forgetting important things

   • feeling restless or fidgeting

   • talking excessively or blurting out answers before hearing the whole question

10. Currently, ADHD is a diagnosis made in people who demonstrate chronic and persistent symptoms across a number of settings. Although people identify with some of these symptoms at different times in their lives, ADHD is a disorder starting in childhood that may persist into adulthood. Childhood onset is the cornerstone of the diagnosis. There is no such disorder as "adult-onset ADHD," although some adults with this condition may not have been diagnosed as children.