It is believed that Sir George Still first documented symptoms of poor attention and hyperactivity. In 1902 he gave three lectures in March, at the Royal College of Physicians in London. He referred to 43 children, describing poor attention with little inhibitory volition, although their intellect was normal. This was published in the Lancet.

However, Alexander Crichton, physician described inattention in his paper in 1798. and Melchior Adam Weikard (German physician) had published a book referring to inattention in 1775.

It was not until 1968 that ADHD was formally categorised in DSM-II. This was amended in 1980 to attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity in DSM-III.

DSM-IIIR includes ADHD in adults, that do not experience hyperactivity in 1987. In 1994, DSM-IV refers to the three categories, attention deficit, 1. with hyperactivity, 2. without hyperactivity and 3. combined.

It was not until 2000 that NICE recognises ADHD in children and in 2008 it recognises it in adults. In 2018, NICE formally documents that ADHD is probably under-diagnosed in girls and women.

There are benefits to ADHD, the restlessness can be spent on lots of sports activity, imagine how good we can all be with that amount of practice. However, this can lead to injury, through playing too much sport.

The inattention can result in education problems and underperformance, whilst the hyperactivity may be exhausting. This is why we need to consider support and treatment for those diagnosed with ADHD.