a neurological disorder manifested by difficulty concentrating and sustaining attention (distractibility), hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. The syndrome often manifests in childhood and may persist into adulthood. It is the most characteristic form of chronic behavioral disorders in childhood. Children with ADHD may exhibit motor disinhibition, impulsive behavior, attention disorders, as well as mild deficits in movement coordination and fine motor impairments. For diagnosis, symptoms must be persistent (for at least six months) and observed in different situations and environments. Three groups of symptoms are distinguished:
1) inattention – inability to attend to details, sustain attention on tasks or games, follow instructions or complete school assignments, frequent distraction by external stimuli, and others;
2) hyperactivity – restless movements of body parts, fidgeting, inability to remain seated, running or climbing in inappropriate situations, excessive noisiness in games, and others;
3) impulsivity – answering before questions are completed, inability to wait in lines, excessive talkativeness without regard for social constraints, frequent interruption of others and intrusion into conversations or games.
Due to impulsivity, children with ADHD are prone to injury, as they often engage in dangerous actions without considering consequences. Problems in relationships with others are almost constant. Such children are characterized by weak psycho-emotional stability, stubbornness, deceitfulness, negativism, irritability, pugnacity, aggressiveness, and a tendency toward theft. Treatment of attention deficit syndrome is always comprehensive and includes behavior modification methods, psychotherapy, psychological and pedagogical correction; pharmacotherapy occupies an important place in the comprehensive treatment. In ICD-10, ADHD was classified as a hyperkinetic disorder – a group of emotional and behavioral disorders usually beginning in childhood, while in ICD-11 it is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder.