What Are the Symptoms of ADHD

ADHD is formerly known as ADD. In the early nineties they renamed ADD to ADHD and then broken down into three types, each with it's own set of behaviors.

To be diagnosed with ADHD the child must have the following behaviors from one of the three types before the age of seven. The behaviors must be more severe than in kids the same age. These behavoirs must last a minimum of 6 months. The behaviors must interfere with at least two areas of the child's life, such as school, home, friendships, or day care.

You cannot diagnose ADHD on your own. A doctor will have many questions and possibly questionnaires for you to fill out that will help rule out other things. They will also check other factors, such as hearing and vision.

Here is a list of symptoms that will at least help you determine on whether you should take your child to the doctor.

First is the inattentive type which include these behaviors:

Inability to pay attention to details.

Makes negligent errors in schoolwork and other tasks.

Difficulty in holding attention while playing.

Has trouble concentrating when they should be listening.

Has a hard time following instructions.

Puts little effort into organization.

Daydreams a lot or seems to be preoccupied

Avoids projects that require mental effort.

Loses important things such as homework.

Easily distracted while working on one project or gets bored.

Forgets daily activities.

Second is the hyperactive - impulsive type, which include these behaviors:

Fidgets ans squirms a lot.

Has trouble sitting in one place.

Unreasonable amounts of running or climbing.

Has a hard time playing quietly.

Unrestrained talking

Always moving as if climbing the walls.

Blurts out answers before hearing the entire question.

Has a hard time waiting their turn, and has a tendency to jump in line.

Interrupts or intrudes in on conversations.

Thirdly is the combined type which involves:

A combination of one and two. This combined type is the most common.

You have to keep in mind that many children have these symptoms but do not have ADHD. Many children are hyper. My own run me ragged at times, but they do not fit the ADHD category.

Many kids interrupt and intrude on conversations and that is normal too. That is something we have to teach our children. It doesn't mean that if they interrupt you that they have ADHD.

Kids love to be first in class sometimes and will blurt out answers to questions if they already know what the teacher is going to say. This is another instance that does not mean that your child has ADHD.

You have to go by the criteria and it must be diagnosed by a doctor.

The point is don't get upset and think that just because your child does some of these things that they have ADHD. For a wealth of information visit the Mayo Clinic Website, click here.