| Many people think ADHD is a recent "fad," a | | | | these names for ADHD give an idea of where |
| new diagnosis. Nothing could be farther from | | | | the research was going at particular times. |
| the truth.In 1845, Dr. Heinrich Hoffman, a | | | | In the 1960's and '70's much of the focus on |
| physician who wrote books on medicine and | | | | what is now ADHD was on hyperactivity, with |
| psychiatry, wrote an illustrated book of | | | | an awareness of the "daydreaming" and |
| children's poetry about children and their | | | | distractibility coming only in the 1980's.In |
| characteristics. "The Story of Fidgety | | | | 1980 the National Institutes of Mental Health |
| Philip" was a portraite of an ADHD boy.ADHD | | | | recognized Attention Deficit Disorder with or |
| was not "discovered" by Hoffman, however, or | | | | without Hyperactivity as a disorder. ADHD was |
| for many years later. In 1902 Sir George F. | | | | on its way to becoming recognized as a "real" |
| Still described a group of impulsive children | | | | illness.In 1998 the American Medical |
| with significant behavioral problems which he | | | | Association (AMA) stated that ADHD is "one of |
| ascribed to a genetic disorder and not poor | | | | the best-researched disorders in |
| parenting. He was describing ADHD over 100 | | | | medicine."Unfortunately, even with all of |
| years ago. He called it "Morbid Defect of | | | | this research, no one knows what causes ADHD |
| Moral Control."In 1922 the name of what we | | | | or how to cure it. But perhaps knowing a |
| now call ADHD was changed to | | | | little of the history of ADHD will help you |
| "Post-Encephalitic Behavior Disorders" in | | | | talk to your ADHD child and understand him a |
| 1922 and "Minimal Brain Dysfunction" in 1960. | | | | little better.Angie Dixon is a writer and |
| The term "Attention Deficit Disorder +/- | | | | ADHD mom of an ADHD son, Jack. For a free |
| Hyperactivity" (now ADHD) came into being, | | | | report on helping your ADHD son, see Angie's |
| after "Hyperkinetic Reaction" in 1968.All of | | | | site "That's My Son! |