About 80 percent of those under-18s diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder are boys, requiring more than six months of treatment, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment said Wednesday.

According to analysis, the number of young people diagnosed with ADHD amounted to 57,000 in 2011, up from 48,000 in 2007. About 80 percent were boys and 68.2 percent were between the ages of 7 and 13.

ADHD symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior and hyperactivity. The exact cause of the behavioral instability is not yet known but experts assume genetic factors.

HIRA said the best way to deal with ADHD is to be screened at an early stage with medication and other playing activities for more than six months.

(baejisook@heraldcorp.com)