The essentials in 30 seconds
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition. It involves difficulties with attention, with or without restlessness and impulsivity, that are more intense than is usual for the person’s age. It begins in childhood, often continues into adolescence and adulthood, and the way it presents changes over a person’s life.
There are three presentations: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, and combined, which is the most common in children seen in clinic. These difficulties take a toll on school life, relationships, family life and, often, self-esteem.
Inattention
Difficulty staying focused, forgetfulness, careless mistakes, tasks started but not finished, being very easily distracted.
Hyperactivity
A need to move that is hard to channel, difficulty staying seated, restlessness that gets in the way in class or at mealtimes.
Impulsivity
Answering before the question is finished, interrupting, finding it hard to wait their turn, acting without thinking ahead.
Diagnostic criteria in brief (DSM-5-TR and ICD-11)
Among other things, the doctor checks that:
- there are many symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity (at least six in the same category in children, five from the age of 17);
- they have lasted for at least six months and are too pronounced for the person’s age;
- several of them were present before the age of 12;
- they appear in at least two settings (home, school, leisure activities);
- they have a real impact and are not better explained by another cause.
How many people are affected?
ADHD is thought to be underdiagnosed in girls. The inattentive form, which is less noticeable, is more common in girls and is easily mistaken for daydreaming or shyness. In adults, too, ADHD remains largely unrecognised.
What causes ADHD?
As with other neurodevelopmental conditions, its causes are only partly understood. The HAS stresses that several factors interact:
- genetic: heritability exceeds 70%, which explains why other family members are often affected too;
- environmental, particularly during pregnancy and around birth (premature birth, low birth weight, exposure to alcohol or toxic substances).
At the heart of ADHD lies an impairment of attentional functions, often alongside difficulties with other executive functions: holding back a response, planning, switching from one task to another and keeping information in mind. Our article ADHD, neuroscience and neurofeedback describes in detail what neuroscience observes in the brain.
Frequently associated conditions
ADHD rarely occurs on its own. In daily life, these associated conditions matter as much as ADHD itself, and they should be checked for:
Sleep needs particular attention: the HAS recommends assessing it routinely. We cover this in our article sleep and ADHD in children.
How is ADHD diagnosed in France?
The diagnosis is clinical. It is made by a doctor trained in ADHD (paediatrician, child psychiatrist, paediatric neurologist, psychiatrist…), usually after initial screening by the GP (family doctor). The HAS guidelines (2024) set out five steps:
The doctor uses questionnaires filled in by parents and teachers, and may ask for further assessments (neuropsychological, speech and language, psychomotor). For children up to the age of 12, coordination and referral platforms (PCOs, publicly funded early-intervention services for neurodevelopmental conditions) can start assessments and interventions even before a diagnosis is made. To find out which signs to look for at each age and who to contact, see our guide to the signs of ADHD in children.
Multimodal support
The HAS recommends a comprehensive, multimodal and multidisciplinary plan, drawn up with the child and their family and reviewed regularly. Here is what it advises:
| Intervention | HAS position (2024) |
|---|---|
| Psychoeducation | Recommended in all cases from diagnosis onwards: understanding ADHD makes it easier to respond effectively. |
| Parent coaching (parent training programmes) | Recommended as a first-line intervention; can start as soon as ADHD is suspected. |
| School adjustments | Classroom adjustments, a PAP (personalised support plan for learning disorders), or a PPS (personalised schooling plan for pupils with a recognised disability) if recognition by the MDPH (departmental disability centre) is needed. |
| Cognitive, behavioural and emotional therapies (TCCE) | Recommended for anxiety, low mood or emotional difficulties. |
| Medication | Prescribed by the doctor according to age and severity, and always combined with non-drug measures. |
| Lifestyle | Sleep routinely assessed, regular physical activity, sensible screen use. |
| Neurofeedback | Not recommended as a specific intervention for ADHD, owing to insufficient evidence. |
Where does neurofeedback fit in?
The HAS position is clear, and we share it openly with families: neurofeedback is not one of the recommended interventions for ADHD in France. International research remains divided. Some studies show encouraging results, while results from the most rigorous trials are less conclusive. We present them in detail in our article on the research.
At Centre Élan, neurofeedback and biofeedback are offered as self-regulation training (attention, alertness, stress management, sleep), alongside medical follow-up, therapies and school adjustments. To find out how this support works, see our neurofeedback and ADHD page.
Frequently asked questions
Does ADHD go away in adulthood?
Not always. Restlessness often eases with age, but inattention and impulsivity frequently persist: nearly half of young people with ADHD still have difficulties as adults, in a different form (organisation, procrastination, managing emotions). ADHD can also be diagnosed for the first time in adulthood.
Who can diagnose ADHD?
A doctor trained in ADHD: a paediatrician, child psychiatrist, paediatric neurologist or psychiatrist, usually after an initial consultation with the GP. Psychologists, neuropsychologists, speech and language therapists and psychomotor therapists (who work on motor development and body awareness) provide valuable assessments, but only a doctor can make the diagnosis.
Can a qEEG assessment diagnose ADHD?
No. No test, whether EEG or imaging, can currently diagnose ADHD. The qEEG assessment carried out at the centre describes each person’s brain function at rest and is used to personalise training and then to track progress.
Sources
- Haute Autorité de santé (HAS) (2024). Trouble du neurodéveloppement / TDAH: diagnostic et interventions thérapeutiques auprès des enfants et adolescents [Neurodevelopmental disorder / ADHD: diagnosis and therapeutic interventions for children and adolescents]. Good practice guideline (in French)
- Haute Autorité de santé (HAS) (2024). Overview page for the guideline and associated tools (in French)
- Assurance Maladie (ameli.fr). TDAH: symptômes, diagnostic et évolution [ADHD: symptoms, diagnosis and course]
- Mon Parcours Handicap (CNSA, French National Solidarity Fund for Autonomy). Qu’est-ce que le TDAH? Aides, PCO et aménagements scolaires [What is ADHD? Support, PCOs and school adjustments] (in French)