A Brief History of ADHD

The history of the ADHD started when Sir Alexanderbehavior that the child shows. It is maybe a hereditary
Crichton described it as a mental restlessness duringcondition. He was able to observe a 6-year old boy
the year 1798 in his book. The term used for thewho kept his attention to a game for more than a
ADHD symptoms has gone through several changes.short time. This boy was diffident to school
The term ADHD is objectionable to many people.attainments but he appeared to be very intelligent just
Some use ADHD-I, ADD and AADD when theylike any other child.
describe those who lack hyperactivity and mostlyThe terms ADD and ADHD are two different things.
among adults and older adolescents.They do not have the same syndrome that has
During the eighteenth century, Sir Alexander Crichtondifferent variation. During the mid-20th century, the
explained it in his book as the incapacity of havingclinical definition of ADHD was known but by other
attention with a constant degree to an object. It arosenames. Many doctors such as physicians develop a
from morbid sensibility of the nerves. It is maybe andiagnosis for a group of conditions that referred to as
inborn or an effect of accidental disease. He observedminimal brain dysfunction, minimal brain damage, minimal
that there are people who have this kind of conditionbrain disorder, hyperactivity, and learning/ behavioral
seem to have restlessness. They are those who walkdisabilities.
up and down the room, moves a table excitedly, etc.This has become a problem since they have
The observations of Crichton known as the Inattentionexpanded through the years. Let's take the example:
subtype of ADHD included attentional problems, earlythere are those children who have no brain damage
onset, restlessness and how it can affect going tobut in the syndrome, it indicated brain damage. It
school. He was ahead of his own time because heseemed not appropriate.
was able to study and observe the ADHD.'
In the 20th century, the father of British pediatrics, SirIn the year 1968, the DSM-II called it "Hyperkinetic
George Frederick Still did not use the currentReaction of Childhood". But many professionals were
terminology for this kind of condition. He was able toaware about some children who do not have
described 43 children who have problems withhyperactivity. So during the year 1980, it was called
self-regulation and attention. They were oftenADD (Attention- Deficit Disorder) with or without the
aggressive, insolent and resistant to discipline.hyperactivity syndrome. But during the year 1987,
He was able to write about the ADHD that "there is aADHD was introduced. It has three sub-types such as
defect of moral consciousness by which it can neverthe one who includes the hyperactivity component and
be counted as the fault of the environment." Accordingthe one has none.
to him, there is a biological tendency to the kind of