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What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? 
ADHD is generally considered to be a neurobiological disorder. Researchers believe that the symptoms of ADHD are caused by chemicals in the brain not working properly. It is characterised by the inability to sustain focused attention, impulsivity and hyperactivity.
There are 3 types, based on the latest diagnostic criteria of the American Psychiatric Association, the DSM-IV:
- ADHD with the combined characteristics of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention,
- ADHD with inattention as the primary characteristic, and
- ADHD with hyperactivity and impulsivity as primary characteristics.
The first and third types are most often and easily identified because these children tend to have symptoms that are highly noticeable. These are the ADHD children who are loud, always on the go, take risks, engage in dangerous behavior, and talk back to adults. The second group, which is often where females are placed, are the quiet daydreamers. They lose personal belongings, can't work alone, don't finish tasks, and are often lost in their own thoughts.
Researchers estimate that ADHD occurs in as few as 1% and as many as 20% of children under 18 years of age. The most accepted estimate is 3-5% of school-going children. That translates into 2 such students in a class of 40 in Singaporeís context.
List of Problems typically faced by ADHD children:
- Poor attention in class
- Poor classroom participation and failure to ask teachers for necessary help
- Poor understanding of material taught (unless they are ìgiftedî with high IQ)
- Poor study skills
- Poor organization skills (ie. does not know how to organize time and work)
- Great difficulty in doing homework
- Failure to complete (and hand up ) homework
- Sloppy or illegible handwriting
- Disrupting the classroom
- Getting into fights with peers (due to poor social skills)
- Low self esteem
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