By Online Psychiatrists (Princeton, NJ)

01/23/2025 Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), also known as attention deficit disorder, distractibility, and inattention deficit disorder, is a common behavioral disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood, but it can often last into adulthood, affecting areas of the brain that prevent you from concentrating, planning, and understanding the behavior of others. People with ADHD are usually impulsive and often overly active.
Depending on the symptoms, there are three types of ADHD:

• Predominantly hyperactive (hyperactivity syndrome without attention deficit)
• Predominantly inattentive (attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity) - ADD
• Combined (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder tends to be inherited.

The exact cause of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is not known, but it is associated with various factors such as genetics, environment, and developmental factors.
Most often, the disease appears before the age of 4, but the age at which a definitive diagnosis can be made is 8-10 years. In some cases (e.g., with a symptom of lack of attention without hyperactivity), the syndrome can be diagnosed only in adolescence.