A. At least 8 of the following behaviours must be present for at least 6 months.

• Often fidgets with hands or feet, or squirms in a seat (in adolescents may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness)
• Has difficulty remaining seated when required to do so
• Has difficulty awaiting turn in games or group situations
• Often blurts out answers to questions before they have been completed
• Has difficulty following through on instructions from others (not due to oppositional behaviour or failure to comprehend directions) e.g. fails to complete chores
• Has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
• Often shifts from one uncompleted activity to another
• Has difficulty playing quietly
• Often talks excessively
• Often interrupts or intrudes on others e.g. butts into other children’s games
• Often does not seem to listen to what is being said to him/her
• Often loses things necessary for tasks or activities at school or home (e.g. toys, books, assignments)
• Often engages in physically dangerous activities without considering possible consequences (not for the purpose of thrill seeking) e.g. runs into street without looking

B. These behaviours start before the age of seven.

In selecting a professional to perform an assessment for AD/HD, parents should consider the clinician’s training and experience with the disorder.

AD/HD is a genetic disorder that can co-exist, to a greater or lesser degree, with any one or more other disorders (e.g. dyslexia, autism, learning disorder, dyspraxia, conduct disorder, oppositional defiance disorder) plus or minus environmental factors, which include school or home life.