Everybody knows at least on person with a difficulty of staying still, sustaining attention or inconvenient impulses. For some people the problem is so serious that it is regarded as a psychiatric disorder. Formally known as hyperkinesis, hyperactivity, minimal brain damage and minimal brain dysfunction, Attention Deficit disorder received its present name in the late 70s, and was again restored in 1994 edition of DSM IV. ADD is the most commonly diagnosed childhood psychiatric condition with tow somatic treatments, stimulants and therapy. Support groups and many other community resources speed up the course of the disorder.

The disorder is defined as a person having inappropriate degrees of inattention,impulsiveness and hyperactivity.

The symptoms that have been displayed with in the degree of inattention are:

-The difficulty of paying attention in tasks or a certain amount of time.

- Trouble with following instructions.

- Often losing things for needed tasks.

Impulsiveness of the disorder may include the following:

- Acting before thinking - this may lead to failing academically or friction in social relationships.

- Difficulty in waiting turns, interrupting or intruding on conversations/games.

Examples of hyperactivity will be seen through the child often fidgeting or squirming in their seats. The will be described as being "on the go" or acting as if "driven by a motor". Many other symptoms like quick shifts of moods temper outbursts, and problems with getting along with others also occur often. Unfortunately, most of the disorders features are negative.

Children with ADD can often concentrate and behave more appropriately in small groups with few distractions in the situation. Their intelligence is normal but find it a challenge to sustain mental effort. Throughout the years they become more calm and relaxed but their restlessness is still noticed.

Many of these symptoms will be present before the age of 7. Nearly 90 percent of children diagnosed with these symptoms, of ADD are males. Males are more hyperactive that females, who so not attract as much attention as the male. But the disorder is equally common within both sexes of adults. Dr. Christopher Green (Director of the Child development Unit at Sydney's new Children's Hospital) believes that up to 10 percent of children are mildly affected by ADD and 2 percent have a severe form of it.

Although an ADD child is friendly and talkative, they have difficulty establishing relationships and getting along with others. From personal observations of an ADD child, their attitude towards other people if often irritable and impatient. He has displayed many of the symptoms mentioned in texts. Physically his energy levels are remarkably high even though he

has his share of accidents. Many of his expected behaviours tend not to maintain for more than a few minutes. His mothers say that he will have trouble with remembering a certain task that has been told to him a couple of times e.g.: cleaning his hands before eating.

It has been noted that during classes, he has trouble with following instructions. He will immediately ask what he is supposed to do after the teacher has explained to the class the instructions. On the contrary, a child with ADD may do very well academically. It has been shown statistically that individuals with ADD do very well even though the disorder is closely

related to learning disabilities.

Problems with ADD children begin at early infancy. Infants are slower to establish eating and sleeping patterns (Neale J, 1990,p416). At the expected age they fail to reach developments such as walking. By their preschool years, they will be looked at as emotional and temperamental

children. But this tends to disappear in adulthood, and late adolescence. Once in the work place as an adult an their disorder does not show up as prominently as it did throughout their school years. They have already become more subdued, but little features are still noticeable.