The symptoms of ADD/ADHD are divided into two general categories: inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. These symptoms are more than bad behavior, acting out, or temper tantrums sometimes seen in children. Usually, they are behaviors that are worse than you would usually expect to see in a child of that age.
Symptoms of inattention
Inattention refers to difficulty concentrating. These symptoms can be seen as the following behaviors:
- Being unable to pay attention to important details. Children with ADD/ADHD can be hasty and sloppy when doing schoolwork, homework, household chores, and other tasks. They may make careless mistakes when doing tasks.
- Having a hard time keeping up interest and paying attention to tasks, games, or leisure activities, especially for long periods of time.
- Appears like he or she is not listening even when you are speaking to him or her
- Has difficulty following instructions. Children with ADD/ADHD may not be able to finish assigned tasks, schoolwork, or household chores. However, this is not because they are being defiant or refusing to follow authority. It is also not because of being unable to understand the instructions. They are not lazy or unwilling. They are simply unable to focus and give attention to directed activities.
- Has problems organizing and keeping track of tasks and activities.
- Forgets daily activities and routines.
- Gets easily distracted. Other sights, sounds, or movement around children with ADD/ADHD can call their attention and cause them to lose focus of the task or activity they are supposed to be doing.
- Frequently loses things. Children with ADD/ADHD often misplace their schoolbooks, homework, pencils, books, other school supplies, and toys.
- Tries to avoid or shows dislike or reluctance for tasks and activities that need concentration or prolonged mental effort. Children with ADD/ADHD also do not like activities that require them to sit still for long periods of time. Examples of these are schoolwork and homework assignments.
These symptoms can be especially problematic for a child’s school performance as well as his or her relationships with parents, teachers, and other authority figures.
Symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity
- In general, children with ADD/ADHD have a hard time keeping still. This is called hyperactivity. Hyperactivity can be seen as:
- Squirming or fidgeting often when seated
- Often standing up and leaving his or her seat in class or other settings where he or she is expected to remain seated
- Running around a lot and climbing on things, even when it’s not proper to do so. Adults and teenagers with ADD/ADHD often no longer show this behavior, but they may say they often have feelings of restlessness.
- Having a hard time playing or doing other tasks quietly
- Always moving around. Parents and teachers may describe the child as being always on the move or acting as if the child is motor-controlled.
- Being very, very talkative.
Children with ADD/ADHD may also have difficulty weighing their options when making decisions. They may not stop to consider what would be the appropriate way to act. They often act before they think. They may move quickly from one activity to the next without completing anything. They find it hard to organize their thoughts and activities. Basically, children with ADD/ADHD do what they want, when they want to do it. They cannot be put off. This is known as impulsivity. Symptoms of impulsivity include:
- Blurting out answers before the person speaking has finished asking a question
- Being very impatient. It is difficult for children with ADD/ADHD to wait for his or her turn.
- Interrupting people when they are speaking. They may butt into conversations that do not include them.
- Intruding on the activities of others. They may join a game even though they were not invited to play.
Hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms may make it very difficult for children with ADD/ADHD to get along with others. These behaviors may make it hard for them to make and keep friends. Hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention can make a child with ADD/ADHD very accident prone.
Types of ADD/ADHD according to symptoms
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, combined type: This type of ADD/ADHD has 6 or more symptoms, each of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. These symptoms have been present for at least six months. They should be severe enough to cause problems with both school and family life.
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, predominantly inattentive type: 6 or more symptoms of inattention are present. The symptoms of inattention should also have been present for at least six months. These symptoms should be serious enough to cause problems in school or work and at home.
Symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity may be present. However, they may not have been present for as long as six months. There may only be five or less symptoms present. The symptoms might not be severe enough to cause serious problems with academic and personal life.
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type: 6 or more symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity are present. These symptoms should have been present for at least six months. The symptoms may cause problems with social, academic, and work related activities.
There may also be symptoms of inattention, but they may not be as severe or prolonged.