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xv Essential Questions 1. WHAT IS ADHD? ADHD is recognized to be a neurobiological behavioral disorder that is characterized by developmentally inappropriate and chronic problems related to issues of impulsivity, inattention, and sometimes hyperactivity. ADHD is fundamentally the result of the inability of the brain to release enough of the appropriate neurotransmitter substances, particularly dopa- mine and norepinephrine, which results in the characteristic symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. 2. IS ADHD AN ACTUAL MEDICAL CONDITION? The American Psychiatric Association defines ADHD as a medical disor- der in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edi- tion (DSM-5). The U.S. Department of Education, the National Institutes of Health, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and many others recog- nize ADHD as a legitimate medical diagnosis. 3. WHAT CAUSES ADHD? The exact causes of ADHD are not fully known, but there are many risk factors that have been identified as increasing an individual’s risk. ADHD tends to run in families, and there is clearly a strong genetic component to ADHD, but it does not appear to be caused by a single gene. Children who are born prematurely and/or at a low birth weight, for instance, have an increased risk of having ADHD. Maternal cigarette or alcohol consump- tion during pregnancy, as well as exposure to pesticides, lead, or other tox- ins, is also associated with higher risks for developing ADHD.