Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms
There are three different types of ADHD:
• the most common, combined ADHD, includes all the symptoms
• inattentive ADHD, a.k.a. ADD, involves inability to pay attention and concentrate
• hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, characterized by hyperactivity, doesn’t involve inattentiveness
For the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to be diagnosed, persistent behavior patterns have to be present before the person is 7. It’s equally important that such symptoms are demonstrated in different settings. For example, the person can show signs of the illness while at school and at home, or at work and at home. Another thing that matters is proof that the condition seriously affects the person’s performance in different environments; clear indication of that fact is necessary.
Three kinds of symptoms include hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity.
Hyperactivity is quite obvious when present in young pre-school children, especially when they are younger than 7. The main symptoms of hyperactivity are:
• squirming, not being able to stay calm when seated
• necessity to stand up and walk around frequently
• running, jumping etc. excessively especially when not appropriate running or climbing excessively when it's inappropriate (restlessness in teenagers)
• having trouble participating in quiet games and activities
• being excessively active
• chattering too much
Inattention is one symptom of ADHD that is not possible to detect before the child goes to school and changes the environment. For adults ADHD may become apparent in unusual social circumstances.
The following symptoms are possible in a person with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder:
• trouble paying attention to small details and habit of making mistakes due to carelessness; producing written or other kinds of work that are not satisfactory by quality and appearance
• distraction by unimportant things (noise, usual events, people passing by) is common and can happen in spite of another, more important, task being performed
• lack of ability to pay attention for a long period of time while performing tasks
• trouble completing schoolwork or doing tasks that require certain degree of concentration
• procrastination
• constant switching from one unfinished activity to another
• lack of organization while working
• absentmindedness in daily life (missing meetings, arrangements, forgetting to bring lunch)
• inability to perform and finish home tasks, chores
• constant shifts while having a conversation, not paying attention to other people speaking, not following the details of the conversation, ignoring the rules of social activities and situations
Impulsivity can be manifest by the following symptoms:
• lack of patience
• trouble putting away reactions
• blabbing out the answer before the question is finished
• trouble awaiting one's turn
• constantly interrupting or disturbing others to the extent when this can cause problems at work or in school
• starting a conversation at time that might be seen as inappropriate
Impulsivity may cause accidents, such as knocking over things or running into people. Kids with ADHD can also decide to participate in activities that may appear quite dangerous, without being able to predict the possible outcome.
Even though most of these will happen in many young children, it’s a lot more frequent for ADHD kids: it can be at home, while visiting a friend, at school – any time. These symptoms often affect the child’s normal life and social relationships.
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