What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects a person’s ability to focus, manage impulses and organise tasks. It may also involve hyperactivity or restlessness (NHS, 2023).
Today, the ICD-11 (International Classification of Diseases) characterises ADHD as:
​
-
a “persistent pattern (at least 6 months) of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that has a direct negative impact on academic, occupational, or social functioning.”
-
It outlines that “there is evidence of significant inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms before age 12,”
-
And that “the degree of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity is outside the limits of normal variation expected for age and level of intellectual functioning.”​
​​
It also stipulates that these features must be evident across multiple situations or settings.
The ADHD UK website explains ADHD in a nutshell.