Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD as it is commonly known is a condition that is associated with a shortened attention span, hyperactivity, and difficulty concentrating on specific tasks. It is one of the most common childhood disorders (although it can continue through teenage years and adulthood), and cases appear to be growing.

Researchers are learning more and more about ADHD, including the effects of diet on the disorder. In this article, we review the condition and it's three subgroups, signs, and symptoms that sufferers exhibit, as well as foods that might actually make ADHD worse.

ABOUT ADHD – WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

The ADHD spectrum has three subgroups. The most common is a combination of inattention and hyperactivity, but there can also be separate categorization for inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. A diagnosis comes when observers record six or more symptoms of each over a period of at least six months.

Children do frequently exhibit inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, but not all of them have a formal diagnosis of the ADHD condition. In those that do fall into that category, the conditions are severe and limit their participation in the normal activities of school, play and family life to a degree that can compromise enjoyment of life and strain relationships. The onset of symptoms usually occurs around age seven, but can continue on to affect nearly ten percent of teens and more than four percent of adults.

In cases where ADHD lingers into later life, the sufferers are more likely to have other mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts and tendencies in far greater numbers than others of the same age.