The most common childhood mental disorder in the U.S., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is characterized by restlessness, difficulty focusing, emotional sensitivity, and impulsivity. With fidgety, squirmy, noisy, and rambunctious kids who have a hard time waiting their turn, the symptoms can be obvious. But ADHD can present in many ways, and some kids with ADHD may be quiet, spacey, and withdrawn. All kids may act this way sometimes, but in kids with ADHD, it’s a sign of something more.
People with ADHD often have trouble with executive function, the cognitive skill that allows them to plan, focus attention, and complete complex tasks. This can lead to difficulty self-regulating emotions, remembering instructions, and completing schoolwork and chores.
About 11 percent of American children have ADHD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That number wasn’t always so high, which has led some people to wonder whether ADHD is real. And while it may be overdiagnosed, the vast majority of doctors agree that ADHD is a very real disorder.