Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder and is characterized by an inability to stay focused on activities or tasks, impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity (Ford-Martin, 1999). Although both sexes are affected, ADHD is more common among boys, and it is estimated that it occurs in between three percent and 9 percent of the children in the United States. Because boys are usually more aggressive than girls, ADHD in girls may go unrecognized and untreated (Ballard et al, 1997). Nearly 600,000 young people in the United States received daily medications for ADHD which mimic neurotransmitters. It is estimated that 40 percent of children referred to mental health clinics show symptoms of ADHD. Signs of the disorder are difficult to assess in young infants, but become apparent at two to three years of age and symptoms of the disorder tend to change as adolescence is approached (Ford-Martin, 1999). In early adulthood, many of these symptoms including hyperactivity diminish, but the attention-deficit problem remains in up to 50 percent of ADHD individuals.
Children with ADHD have short attention spans, and their lack of focus often results in poor grades at school. They are constantly on the move, have trouble with both gross and fine motor skills, and may be physically clumsy and awkward as a result. However, ADHD is not necessarily associated with a low IQ. Kaplan, Crawford, Dewey and Fisher (2000) examined children with ADHD and those with reading disabilities (RD). Classification of children as having ADHD was based on the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC) and the diagnostic criteria for ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Third Edition - Revised. One hundred and thirty-one children were selected for the study. RD was assessed if children scored at or below the 24th percentile on the Word Attack subtest of the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational B...