The symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may be difficult to define because, with each individual child, it is difficult to understand which behaviors are normal for the child and which require clinical intervention. The main behaviors that characterize Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are hyperactivity, inattentiveness, difficulty concentrating and impulsivity. Other characteristics of the condition include: being easily distracted, forgetfulness, inability to organize, becoming easily confused, struggling to follow directions, seeming to 'daydream,' or not responding when spoken to, fidgeting and squirming while sitting in one place, nonstop talking, being constantly in motion, impatience, blurting out inappropriate comments, and exhibiting emotions or behaviors without restraint or consideration of consequences. In order for a child to be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), symptoms must present in at least two different settings for six months or more and must be determined to be out of the normal range in comparison with children of the same age group. While research has shown that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is not caused by sugar intake, excessive television viewing, poor child management by parents, or social and environmental factors such as poverty or family chaos, it has shown that such factors may exacerbate symptoms.
