Can infants have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

Typical symptoms of childhood hyperactivity disorder usually do not appear during infancy. Childhood hyperactivity disorder, also known as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood and is primarily characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that are inappropriate for the child's developmental level. Although some behaviors associated with ADHD—such as excessive activity or brief attention span—may be observed in infants, these behaviors are typically part of normal physiological and psychological development at this stage and are insufficient for a diagnosis of ADHD. It should be noted that children born prematurely have a higher risk of developing ADHD, but this does not mean that all premature infants will develop the disorder. Furthermore, the exact onset age and diagnosis of ADHD must be determined during childhood, with typical symptoms usually becoming evident and reliably assessed during the school-age years.