Attention deficit

Attention deficit, among the most commonly diagnosed functional deficits in pediatric neurology, is, like epilepsy, most often idiopathic. It can also be a symptom of many neuropathologic states. Although a lifelong problem, attention deficit is most troublesome during school years, because, like asthma, it is highly sensitive to environmental influence. The neurologist can consider attention deficit in its own right, apart from hyperkinesis and other associated behavior disorders, as a cognitive limitation and handicap to academic progress.