attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

noun

variants or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

: a developmental disorder that is marked especially by persistent symptoms of inattention (such as distractibility, forgetfulness, or disorganization) or by symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity (such as fidgeting, speaking out of turn, or restlessness) or by symptoms of all three and that is not caused by any serious underlying physical or mental disorder

Note: Symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder range from mild to severe and always interfere with normal development and daily functioning, though hyperactivity and impulsivity are not always present as symptoms. A diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder typically requires that symptoms be present by the age of 12 and in more than one setting (such as both home and school). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may persist into adulthood, creating difficulties in one's occupation or social relationships.

called also attention deficit disorder

—abbreviation ADHD

Examples of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Health care providers in about 30 countries are doing social prescribing to address symptoms of Type 2 diabetes, chronic pain, dementia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, among others, Hotz says. —Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 14 July 2025

The Church of Scientology had organized a nationwide protest campaign against the psychiatric profession, and Ritalin, then the leading medication prescribed to children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, was one of its main targets. —Paul Tough Eric Jason Martin Krish Seenivasan Brian St. Pierre, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025

Exposure to heavy metals has been associated with negative health effects such as nervous system problems, immune system suppression, kidney damage, autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in young children. —Jonathan Stempel, USA Today, 25 May 2025

Using natural supplements to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might help to manage symptoms. —Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 23 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

• boarder
• border
• corder
• order
• warder
• camcorder
• recorder
• reorder
• suborder
• transborder

Medical Definition

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

noun

variants or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

: a developmental disorder that is marked especially by persistent symptoms of inattention (such as distractibility, forgetfulness, or disorganization) or by symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity (such as fidgeting, speaking out of turn, or restlessness) or by symptoms of all three and that is not caused by any serious underlying physical or mental disorder

Note: Symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder range from mild to severe and always interfere with normal development and daily functioning, though hyperactivity and impulsivity are not always present as symptoms. A diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder typically requires that symptoms be present by the age of 12 and in more than one setting (such as both home and school). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may persist into adulthood, creating difficulties in one's occupation or social relationships.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is generally considered as a childhood disorder. … However, ADHD symptoms in adulthood can present in numerous ways, such as restlessness, difficulty in relaxing, and dysphoria, whereas attention deficits may manifest as a lack of concentration regarding details, forgetting appointments, and a failure to plan and organize activities and work.

—Michael Rösler et al., The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder … has become a common diagnosis in the United States, with reported rates in school-aged boys and girls of approximately 10% and 4%, respectively …

—Lydia Furman, Journal of Childhood Neurology

Discoveries in neuroscience are reinforcing a growing consensus that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder … is not just a set of behavior problems but a biologically based disorder of brain function. The symptoms of impulsiveness, inattentiveness, and hyperactivity arise, this research suggests, because misfiring of the brain's executive function—its management system— make it difficult to stay still, concentrate, and exercise forethought and self-control.

—Harvard Mental Health Letter

called also attention deficit disorder

—abbreviation ADHD