Do you have ADHD? U.S. medical doctors use a publication published by the American Psychiatric Association to guide them in their diagnosis of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). That publication is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). To be diagnosed as ADHD, a person would have to have either six or more symptoms of inattention or six or more symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity "for at least six months to a degree that is maladaptive" and "inconsistent to the person's develop-mental level."

The symptoms of inattention include:

• Failure to give close attention to details or careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities.
• Difficulty maintaining attention in work tasks or play.
• Frequent incidents of failure to listen when directly spoken to.
• Frequent failure to follow through on instructions and tasks ranging from schoolwork to chores or workplace duties.
• Frequent difficulty in...