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The core challenges of ADHD include inattentiveness, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. In addition to these core difficulties, children with ADHD can experience secondary challenges which are directly related and associated with their experience to other people’s reactions. These difficulties can include (Cooper & O’ Reagan, 2001):

• I am always getting into trouble at home and school because I do things wrong, or I do the wrong thing, or I do not finish things.
• My parents and teachers are disappointed in me.
• People are unfair. Even thought I try very hard people always seem to complain that I am lazy.
• I do not see things the way that other people see them.
• I do not seem to understand how people think and feel.
• I feel like an alien
• People sometimes think I am odd.
• People often ignore and do not like me.
• Sometimes people laugh at me.
• I have difficulty getting on with other people.
• Sometimes I get very miserable because of these problems, and sometimes this makes me angry.
• I wish people would leave me alone.
• I always forget things.
• I am no good at schoolwork.
• I am useless at just about everything.

ADHD is chronic and symptoms are often developmentally stable across the lifespan. Approximately 70-80% of children with ADHD will not outgrow their symptoms in adolenscence and will continue to have problems in school, with their families and with their peers (Barkley, n.d,; Wender, 2000).