PARENTS & CARERS - ADHD & ASD - ADHD: The History
The History of ADHD
While there is little definitive history of ADHD, (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) has likely been in existence for hundreds of years. The first known description of ADHD dates back to Dr. Heinrich Hoffman in 1845. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Dr. Hoffman was a physician who wrote books on medicine, psychiatry, and children’s poetry. He became interested in children’s poetry during his quest to find good reading materials for his young son. Dr. Hoffman’s book of poems was about children and their personalities. One of his poems, "The Story of Fidgety Philip" accurately describes an ADHD child. Here is an excerpt from the poem about Fidgety Philip at the dinner table:
THE STORY OF FIDGETY PHILIP
Let me see if Philip can
Be a little gentleman
Let me see, if he is able
To sit still for once at table:
Thus Papa bade Phil behave;
And Mamma look'd very grave.
But fidgety Phil,
He won't sit still;
He wriggles
and giggles,
And then, I declare
Swings backwards and forwards
And tilts up his chair,
Just like any rocking horse; -
"Philip! I am getting cross!"
See the naughty restless child
Growing still more rude and wild.
Till his chair falls over quite.
Philip screams with all his might.
Catches at the cloth, but then
That makes matters worse again.
Down upon the ground they fall.
Glasses, plates, knives, forks and all.
How Mamma did fret and frown.
When she saw them tumbling down!
And Papa made such a face!
Philip is in sad disgrace.
Where is Philip, where is he?
Fairly cover'd up you see!
Cloth and all are lying on him;
He has pull'd down all upon him.
What a terrible to-do!
Dishes, glasses, snapt in two!
Here a knife, and there a fork!
Philip, this is cruel work.
Table all so bare, and ah!
Poor Papa, and poor Mamma
Look quite cross, and wonder how
They shall make their dinner now.
This lovely poem written by Dr. Heinrich Hoffmann in 1844 is the first known description of Attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type (DSM-IV).
ADHD was first formally recognised in 1902 by George Still, at that time he described Inattentive, Hyperactive children as having a Morbid Deficit of Moral Control. It wasn’t until the 1990’s it was given the name Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.