ADHD-Europe

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is defined as a developmentally inappropriate level of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is present before the age of seven years.

AD/HD is:

• frequent: 3 – 5 % of school-aged children; 1 – 3 % of the adults;
• disabling (social, behavioural, educational, professional etc.);
• a burden on the individual, family and society;
• complicated by additional problems in most cases.

Ideally, early and accurate detection in conjunction with appropriate treatment of AD/HD, support for the family and interventions/accommodations within the educational and professional systems are critical for an individual. The hyperactive or impulsive behaviours and attention deficit problems are often not in keeping with either the intellectual abilities or the developmental stages of the individual. (European Interdisciplinary Network for AD/HD Quality assurance [EINAQ], 2004)