For this reason the diagnosis of ADHD has to be given by a specialist in the field.

There has been a good deal of controversy lately regarding the irresponsible and casual labeling of childhood behaviors as hyperactive and therefore requiring medication and treatment.

Ritalin is the most common medication for sufferers of ADHD but questions have arisen as to the responsible dispensing of the drug to children that actually have the disorder and who are not just responding to aspects of their environments or displaying normal childlike behavior. Some parents and professionals have been accused of dispensing Ritalin to children in order to "iron out the kinks" and subdue high-spirited behavior or disruptive behavior that may be due to something other than ADHD.

The true symptoms of ADHD should become obvious in the early childhood years before the age of seven. These symptoms include excessive activity, impatience, constant distraction, shifting from one activity to another and restless sleeping patterns.

The National Institute of Mental Health looks for three main signs:
1. Inattention
2. Hyperactivity
3. Impulsivity

Because symptoms vary across different settings great care must be made in making a correct diagnosis. The behavior must have continued for at least 6 months and it must create a real handicap for the child in more than just one context. The specialist will check to see that the behavior is excessive, long-term and pervasive, that it is continuous and occurs in several settings and not just one.

The causes of ADHD are currently thought to be neurobiological and genetic in nature though environment may influence the severity of the symptoms.