ADHD/ADD  (This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.) 

 http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder-ADHD-Topic-Overview

What is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral condition in which children have difficulties paying attention and focusing on tasks. This common disorder begins in early childhood and can continue into adulthood. If not recognized and treated, it can cause problems at home, school, and work and with relationships.

What are the symptoms of ADHD?    The three types of ADHD symptoms are:

Inattention. This is the most common symptom. In addition to having difficulty paying attention, people with this symptom often are unable to consistently focus, remember, and organize. They may be careless and have a hard time starting and completing tasks that are boring, repetitive, or challenging.
Impulsivity. People who frequently act before thinking may not make sound judgments or solve problems well. They may also have trouble developing and maintaining personal relationships. An adult may not keep the same job for long or spend money wisely.
Hyperactivity. A hyperactive child may squirm, fidget, and climb or run when it is not appropriate. These children often have difficulty playing with others. They may talk a great deal and not be able to sit still for even a short time. Teenagers and adults who are hyperactive don't usually have the more obvious physical behaviors seen in children. Rather, they often feel restless and fidgety and are not able to enjoy reading or other quiet activities.
Many children with ADHD have signs of both hyperactivity and attention problems. This is called combined type ADHD. When children have significant problems with hyperactivity and impulsivity and fewer problems with attention, it is called predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type ADHD. Some children mainly have problems with inattention and fewer problems with hyperactivity and impulsivity. This is called predominantly inattentive type ADHD. Symptoms of all types of ADHD can range from mild to severe.

Other conditions, such as learning disabilities, depression, anxiety disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder, are sometimes mistaken for ADHD. They may also occur along with ADHD, which can make diagnosis of the primary problem difficult.

What causes ADHD? While the exact cause is not clear, researchers have found that ADHD tends to run in families, so a genetic factor is likely. Ongoing research is focused on identifying genes that cause a person to be susceptible to ADHD. Studies have also shown a possible link between alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy and ADHD.

How is ADHD diagnosed? ADHD is often diagnosed when a child is 6 to 12 years of age. Children in this age group are most easily diagnosed because symptoms become more noticeable in school. It is more difficult to diagnose ADHD in a child younger than age 6 because the symptoms can also occur periodically during normal development.

ADHD is diagnosed by first having a thorough medical examination to rule out other conditions. An evaluation by a pediatrician, family doctor, psychologist, or child and adolescent psychiatrist uses specific criteria established by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Observations of a child's behavior documented by parents, classroom teachers, and others who have regular contact with the child are evaluated.

How is it treated?Although there is no cure for ADHD, treatment can help control symptoms. Stimulant medications, such as amphetamine (examples include Dexedrine or Adderall) and methylphenidate (examples include Ritalin, Concerta, or Metadate CD), are effective in controlling symptoms in children.

Studies show that some children who receive behavioral therapy along with medication improve more than those who receive medication alone.4 Often, extra support at home and at school and counseling help children find success at school and feel better about themselves.

Doctors recommend that children be closely followed after they begin to take medications for ADHD. Side effects-including loss of appetite, headaches or stomachaches, tics or twitches, and problems sleeping-usually decrease after a few weeks on the medication, or the dosage can be lowered to offset them.

How does ADHD affect adults?Many adults do not realize that they have ADHD until their children are diagnosed and they begin to recognize their own symptoms. Adults with ADHD may find it hard to focus, organize, and finish tasks. They are often forgetful and absent-minded. Some adults with ADHD learn to manage their lives and find careers in which they can use their strengths-intellectual curiosity and creativity-to their advantage.

However, many adults have difficulties at home and work. As a group, adults with ADHD have higher divorce rates, are more likely to smoke, and have more substance abuse problems than adults without the disorder. Also compared with their peers, fewer enter college and fewer graduate. Treatment with medication, counseling, and behavioral therapies can provide significant benefit.