ADHD

Signs and Symptoms

ADHD symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe, and they may continue into adulthood. Children with ADHD will not grow out of these sympotoms.  It is important to rememeber every child with ADHD can expiereince these symptoms differently.

Here are a list of symptoms broken out into the main 3 categories of symptoms for ADHD. 

Inattention:

• Short attention span for age (difficulty sustaining attention)
• Difficulty listening to others
• Difficulty attending to details
• Easily distracted
• Forgetfulness
• Poor organizational skills for age
• Poor study skills for age

Impulsivity:

• Often interrupts others
• Has difficulty waiting for his or her turn in school and/or social games
• Tends to blurt out answers instead of waiting to be called upon
• Takes frequent risks, and often without thinking before acting

Hyperactivity:

• Seems to be in constant motion; runs or climbs, at times with no apparent goal except motion
• Has difficulty remaining in his/her seat even when it is expected
• Fidgets with hands or squirms when in his or her seat; fidgeting excessively
• Talks excessively
• Has difficulty engaging in quiet activities
• Loses or forgets things repeatedly and often
• Inability to stay on task; shifts from one task to another without bringing any to completion

Diagnosis

There is no single test to diagnose ADHD, and many other problems, like anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and certain types of learning disabilities, can have similar symptoms. A medical exam from your Lee Health primary care physician can help determine next steps on properly diagnosing your child. 

Your primary care physician may refer you to a specialist, such as a developmental-behavioral pediatrician, psychologist, psychiatrist or pediatric neurologist.