Abstract

Background: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is among the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of infancy. A neurodevelopmental term pertains to the manner in which the brain develops and expands. In general, ADHD is initially diagnosed during childhood and frequently persists into adulthood. Objectives of the study: To assess the level of symptom severity among children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and its association with the sociodemographic characteristics of parents. Methodology: The current study used an analytical cross-sectional design with 114 parents of children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Babylon city. Data were gathered through personal interviews with each child in the center or school. Subsequently, parents provided each child with a copy of the self-administered questionnaire following the interview. The data were collected from October 13, 2024, to March 16, 2025. Results: This study indicated that 43.9% of ADHD children have mild inattention symptoms, 34.2% severe, and 21.9% moderate. The largest percentage (45.6%) of ADHD children showed severe hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms. ADHD children exhibited 31.6% moderate opposition/defiance symptoms, 28.9% severe, 28.1% mild, and 11.4% non-clinical symptoms. The largest percentage (35.1%) of ADHD symptoms were severe, 32.5% moderate, and 32.5% mild. Conclusions: This study concluded that the largest proportion of parents reported severe symptoms among their children. At the same time, low education levels of fathers, low professional occupations of fathers, and low socioeconomic status were associated with more severe ADHD symptom levels. It is essential to provide training for parents of children with ADHD through courses aimed at enhancing their skills and competencies in managing their children.