Symptoms of ADHD
The mere presence of symptoms such as hyperactivity, inattentiveness or impulsivity in a child, does not mean that the child is suffering from ADHD. If so, one should always consult a mental health specialist to know exactly about the symptoms of ADHD.
ADHD, commonly referred to as Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is one of the most common psychiatric disorders found in children. Studies have revealed out that globally, about 3-5% of children are found to suffer from ADHD; and the incidence rate in the school-going children is about 2-16%. The common picture of a child suffering from ADHD, which comes into one’s mind is usually a child in continuous motion, vigorously active and disturbing almost everybody around.
Now let us have a look at the symptoms of ADHD, which usually develop in a child before the year of seven years. As indicated by the name, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD, individuals suffering from this disorder usually fail to respond spontaneously in almost all aspects, starting from movements, speech to alertness. However, sometimes it becomes quite difficult to differentiate between ADHD and the normal behavior of a child. It is quite normal for children to forget their homework, to have their heads in the clouds while in their classroom, perform something without thinking, or become restless at the dinner table. But if the symptoms persist across all situations may it be at home, place of education, or workplace; then one should definitely look into the matter seriously, and consult a doctor. Studies have reported that ADHD is two to four times more prevalent amongst boys, when compared with girls. This difference may be due to the subjective partiality of the concerned teacher.
Symptoms of ADHD
There are three primary characteristic symptoms of ADHD, which include, inattentiveness, hyperactive behavior and impulsiveness. Depending on these characteristics, children with ADHD may be either:
A. Not attentive, but not hyperactive and impetuous.
B. Hyperactive and impetuous, but is attentive,
C. Hyperactive, not attentive as well as impetuous, which is the most common type of ADHD.
Children who have inattentiveness as the primary symptoms of ADHD, often face certain consequences such as misunderstandings with the teachers at school for not properly following their instructions, poor performance in academics, and often end up in quarrels with other children for not following the rules while playing. Often these children are referred to as troublemakers, and often condemned for being lazy and disobedient. However, symptoms of ADHD do not always include inattentiveness in all aspects; they do focus on topics in which they are interested, or enjoy while performing the same. But if the tasks are recurring, or if they feel bored doing the same; then they often skip from one task to another even without completing the previous one. Often they happen to skip certain important steps while performing any procedures. Similarly, they find it very difficult to maintain timings, and organize their school work. They lack concentration, and often get distracted by things happening around them. Other signs of inattentiveness of ADHD are lack of attention to details, making careless mistakes, failure in hearing when spoken to, forgetfulness and often forget the instructions given to them, getting confused easily and daydreaming, getting bored with a particular task before its completion, finding it very difficult to communicate information quickly and appropriately like others, frequent loss and misplacement of their books, toys, pencils or other items, etc.
Here is a brief description about the hyperactive symptoms of ADHD. Hyperactivity is the most typical sign of ADHD. Of course one cannot deny that, children are normally quite active. But children with hyperactive symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder usually find it very difficult to sit quietly in a place; they keep on moving. If forced to sit in a place, they usually shake their legs, tap their feet or start drumming with their fingers. Some of the other notable hyperactive symptoms of ADHD include, the affected child often wriggles and feels restless; often leaves his/her seat especially when in a classroom; nonstop talking habits; faces difficulty in playing quiet and relaxing games; is usually on a move; has a short temper, etc.
Here is a brief description about the impetuous symptoms of ADHD. These impulsive symptoms make these children with problems of self-discipline, because they often interrupt the conversation of others; occupy other child’s seat or place; ask unrelated and inappropriate questions in the class; make indiscrete remarks; ask personal questions, which are beyond their age limitation. Other common sigtns of impulsiveness include; they are usually impatient, and display their emotions without any self-control, act without thinking about the consequences; find it very difficult to wait for things, they like, or to wait for their turns while playing games; utter any answers in the class without waiting for their turn, or without listening to the whole question; speak the wrong things at the incorrect time; are usually unable to control their powerful feelings, and often result in angry outbreaks or bad temper; make guesses instead of trying to find a solution of a problem, etc.
Research studies have revealed out that there is a close relationship between ADHD in children and persistent bed wetting, as well as and delay in language development. About5% of children with ADHD seem to have certain anti-social behavioral disorders and condut disorders such as stealing inflexibility, being stubborn and adamant, deceitfulness,etc.
The symptoms of ADHD usually develop in early childhood, and may persist often till adulthood. According to the World Health Organization, nearly4.7% of adults in America live with ADHD. However these symptoms found in an adult is quite different from those found in the children. This is so, because of the result of the adaptive processes and mechanisms of prevention, which are learned during the course of socialization.
In fact, the following question will give a clear understanding about ADHD in children: Which of the following children have got the typical symptoms of ADHD?
A. The hyperactive child who talks continuously, and is unable to sit quietly in a place.
B. The child who daydreams, and keeps staring into the space.
C. Both a and b.
Well, the correct answer to this above-mentioned question is “c”.