In 80% of cases, it lasts into adolescence and continues into adulthood 66% of the time. The majority of all diagnosis is made in the United States (Baird et al. 2000). .
Barkley (1994) points out that there is one primary disability associated with ADHD: poor behavioral inhibition. There are many symptoms or characteristics associated with this disability. Children with ADHD tend to be impulsive, physically active, easily bored, and prone to shift activities frequently. One might believe that these are normal characteristics of young children but they have to occur excessively and in a variety of contexts. These children have difficulty following instructions, are less likely to persevere at boring tasks, and are prone to accidents. Since they suffer from hyperactivity as well as attention problems, they are often constantly moving, running around and bumping into things. It would be normal for a child with ADHD to run out of his/her home and into the street without even considering the consequences (Baird et al. 2000).
Development of their thought process is often delayed. Mental arithmetic is very challenging. Since internal verbalization is delayed, they tend to produce excessive and irrelevant speech (Barkley 1994). The ADHD child has difficulties with perception. Often times it is hard for them to distinguish their right from their left. This may lead to problems with reading for they have difficulty telling their letters apart. Some have difficulty with memory. Teachers report that they learn something one day and it is forgotten the next (Wender 1973). Many ADHD children exhibit resistant and domineering behavior. They struggle with rules and authority figures, demonstrate aggressive and domineering behavior with other children and illustrate an increased need for independence. These children are not upset when they are separated from their parents and most of the time they do not mind (Wender 1973).
