This report summarizes activities and findings of a federally funded center at the University of Miami (Florida) which reviewed and disseminated literature on the identification and assessment of children with attention deficit disorders (ADD). The review covers the literature published between 1980 and 1992 and is organized topically. In addition to introduction and background sections, individual sections synthesize the literature on: (1) instruments used to assess ADD; (2) the educational characteristics of children with ADD, subtypes of ADD, and coexistence of ADD with other disorders such as learning disability and conduct disorder; (3) assessment and identification of preschool age children with ADD; (4) issues regarding ethnicity and socioeconomic status in the assessment and identification of children with ADD; and (5) studies of the families of children with ADD. A final chapter identifies limitations of the literature, summarizes the major findings concerning educational variables relevant to assessment, considers concerns about sociodemographic and multicultural issues, and relates findings to educational assessment. Appendices present the synthesis methodology. (Contains references for each chapter.) (JDD)