Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)
The symptoms of ADHD include inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity. These are traits that most children display at some point or another, but to establish a diagnosis of ADHD, sometimes referred to as ADD, the symptoms should be inappropriate for the child's age.
Adults can also have ADHD. In fact, up to half of adults diagnosed with the disorder had it as children. When ADHD persists into adulthood, symptoms may vary. For instance, an adult may experience restlessness instead of hyperactivity. In addition, adults with ADHD often have problems with interpersonal relationships and employment.
There are three different subtypes of ADHD, including:
Combined ADHD (the most common subtype), which involves symptoms of both inattentiveness and hyperactivity/impulsivity
Inattentive ADHD (previously known as ADD), which is marked by impaired attention and concentration
Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, which is marked by hyperactivity without inattentiveness
For a diagnosis of ADHD, some symptoms that cause impairment must be present before age seven. Also, some impairment from the symptoms must be present in more than one setting. For instance, the person may be impaired at home and school or home and work. Also, there must be clear evidence the symptoms interfere with the person's ability to function at home, in social environments, or at work
GENERAL ADHD SYMPTOMS
Difficulty paying attention to details and tendency to make careless mistakes in school or other activities; producing work that is often messy and careless
Easily distracted by irrelevant stimuli and frequently interrupting ongoing tasks to attend to trivial noises or events that are usually ignored by others
Inability to sustain attention on tasks or activities
Difficulty finishing schoolwork or paperwork or performing tasks that require concentration
Frequent shifts from one uncompleted activity to another
Procrastination
Disorganized work habits
Forgetfulness in daily activities (for example, missing appointments, forgetting to bring lunch)
Failure to complete tasks such as homework or chores
Frequent shifts in conversation, not listening to others, not keeping one's mind on conversations, and not following details or rules of activities in social situations
There are three different categories of ADHD symptoms: hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. Inattention may not become apparent until a child enters the challenging environment of school. In adults, symptoms of inattention may manifest in work or in social situations.
Hyperactivity
Symptoms may be apparent in very young preschoolers and are nearly always present before the age of seven.
Symptoms include:
Fidgeting and squirming when seated
Getting up frequently to walk or run around
Running or climbing excessively when it's inappropriate (in teens this may appear as restlessness)
Having difficulty playing quietly or engaging in quiet, leisure activities
Always being 'on the go'
Often talking excessively
Hyperactivity may vary with age and developmental stage.
Toddlers and preschoolers with ADHD tend to be constantly in motion, jumping on furniture, and having difficulty participating in sedentary group activities. For instance, they may have trouble listening to a story.
School-age children display similar behavior but with less frequency. They are unable to remain seated, squirm a lot, fidget, or talk excessively.
In adolescents and adults, hyperactivity may manifest itself as feelings of restlessness and difficulty engaging in quiet, sedentary activities.
Impulsivity
Impulsivity may lead to accidents such as knocking over objects or banging into people. Children with ADHD may also engage in potentially dangerous activities without considering the consequences. For instance, they may climb to precarious positions.
Many of these symptoms occur from time to time in normal youngsters. However, in children with ADHD they occur frequently -- at home and at school or when visiting with friends. They also interfere with the child's ability to function as other children of the same age or developmental level.
Symptoms include:
Impatience
Difficulty delaying responses
Blurting out answers before questions have been completed
Difficulty awaiting one's turn
Frequently interrupting or intruding on others to the point of causing problems in social or work settings
Initiating conversations at inappropriate times
Inattention
Tends to persist through childhood and adolescence and on into adulthood, while hyperactivity tends to diminish with age. As they grow older, some teens that have had ADHD since childhood may experience periods of anxiety or depression.
Several of the symptoms of ADHD may get worse as the demands at school or home increase
Symptoms include:
Difficulty following instructions
Being unable to get organized, either at home or at school
Fidgeting, especially with the hands and feet
Talking too much
Failing to finish projects, including chores and homework
Not paying attention to and responding to details
Getting poor grades in school
Being isolated from peers due to poor grades and secondary depression
ADHD is diagnosed only when children consistently display some or all of the above behaviors in at least two settings, such as at home and in school, for at least six months.
Long-Term Prognosis With ADHD: Some children with ADHD -- approximately 20% to 30% -- develop learning problems that may not improve with ADHD treatment. Hyperactive behavior may be associated with the development of other disruptive disorders, particularly conduct and oppositional-defiant disorder. Why this association exists is not known. A great many children with ADHD ultimately adjust. Some, though, especially those with an associated conduct or oppositional-defiant disorder, are more likely to drop out of school. These individuals fare more poorly in their later careers.
WebMD Medical Reference; Reviewed by Patricia Quinn, MD on March 17, 2013