Symptoms and Signs of ADHD

Written By: admin

Published Date: August 30, 2018 Last Edited: August 30, 2018

John

How does one know he/she has ADHD? Of course, if you are concerned if you or a child has ADHD, the first thing to do is always to seek professional care from a psychologist, a psychiatrist, or your primary care provider like your pediatrician.

Your clinician or mental health provider will use a number of guidelines from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition or the DSM-5 by the American Psychiatric Association. ADHD manifests in persistent inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity which affects your child’s development and performance at school. However, many of these signs and symptoms are experienced by many children, so it is again important to consult your healthcare and mental health provider if you suspect your child to have ADHD.

Inattention

Children with ADHD have trouble focusing and paying attention to one activity. Inattention may present as the following, according to DSM-5:

Careless mistakes in school work or other activities — This is indicative that the child does not pay attention to detail.
Mind always seems to be elsewhere — Children like this do not listen when they are being spoken to, and oftentimes always seem to be drifting off to another thought even when there is no distraction present.
Leaving tasks half finished — This indicates that the child starts off with interest, but immediately loses it afterward, leaving the activity unfinished
Avoiding schoolwork — Kids who avoid schoolwork or even housework show that they dislike doing things that require prolonged attention.
Forgetfulness — These children often lose things such as pencils, books, toys, or cellphones.
Easily distracted — Children who have ADHD are easily taken out of focus during a conversation or an activity

Hyperactivity-Impulsivity

Kids with ADHD always seem to be on the go and constantly in motion, running from one corner of the room to the next. Hyperactivity-Impulsivity may present as the following:

Fidgeting and squirming in the seat
Leaving the seat when least expected (e.g. in the middle of class)
Running about or climbing when inappropriate
Being unable to stay quiet in activities
Acting as if “driven by a motor” (e.g. always on the go)
Blurting out answers before the other person finishes his question
Impatience, difficulty waiting in line
Interrupting others’ conversations

Professionals find that if six of these symptoms are present for not less than six months for both inattentiveness and hyperactivity-impulsivity, it is likely the child has ADHD. These symptoms must be present in two settings or more such as in school and at home. More importantly, ADHD does not occur along with other disorders like anxiety disorders.

Since these are all manifestations in children, one wonders if it is possible for an adult to know whether he/she has ADHD. Children often carry ADHD into adulthood, albeit the symptoms and signs slightly change. Adults are more likely to: