History of ADHD: “The Story of Fidgety Philip”

While there is little definitive history of ADHD, attention deficit 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:

“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 spoke, in earnest tone, the father to his son; and the mother looked very grave to see Philip so misbehave.
But Philip he did not mind; his father who was so kind … 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, bread, knives forks and all … Poor Papa and poor Mamma look quite cross, and wonder how they shall make their dinner now.”

How many parents of a child with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder have experienced a “Fidgety Philip” scenario at the dinner table? Virtually all of them can relate to Dr. Hoffman’s description of an ADHD child, even though his description was written more than 150 years ago, making a permanent mark in the history of ADHD. This should give hope to those who are parenting an ADHD child. Through the years, there have been millions of children with attention difficulties yet they have grown to have happy and fulfilling lives.