Recognizing ADHD Symptoms for Children- Can You Spot a Child with ADHD?

Adhd is still difficult to diagnose, particularly in children because the symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity are completely normal if they only occur from time to time.

This also explains why ADHD is the most over-diagnosed of all mental afflictions. ADHD symptoms for children can be a constant distraction making school and personal life a struggle.

What are the ADHD Symptoms for Children?

To recognize the symptoms of a child with adhd you have to understand that attention deficit disorder is classified under 3 specific categories:

Inattentive: Unable to concentrate for sustained periods of time

Hyperactive/Impulsive: Seemingly unable to control impulsive actions but without inattention

Combination: This is the most common type of ADHD with a combination of inattentive and hyperactive symptoms.

ADHD Symptoms for Children with Inattention Include:



• Gets distracted easily by irrelevant things that are completely irrelevant to what is going on
• Reluctant to do tasks that require sustained attention like homework
• School work looks sloppy and careless
• Doesn't seem to listen even when spoken to directly
• Frequently breaks away from tasks to focus on noises or actions that are usually ignored by others
• Difficulty finishing schoolwork or performing tasks that require concentration
• frequently shifts from one incomplete activity to another
• Procrastination
• Poor organization
• Forgetfulness in daily activities or losing important objects frequently
• Difficulty paying attention to details and often makes careless mistakes in school or other activities
• Poor listening skills or the inability to stay with a single conversation

Inattention is what makes it impossible for a child with ADHD to concentrate on school work, home work, chores or even the basic rules of living in a family.

Common ADHD Symptoms for Children with Hyperactivity include:



• Being always on the go
• Running or climbing excessively when it's inappropriate (in teens this may appear as restlessness)
• Getting up frequently to walk or run around
• Fidgeting or squirming a lot when seated
• Talking excessively
• Seems unable to play quietly

There a specific sub-group of hyperactive symptoms that exhibit impulsive behavior. A child with ADHD impulsivity problems usually has trouble:

• Blurting out answers before questions have been completed
• Frequently interrupting or intruding on others to the point of causing problems in social or work settings
• Impatience
• Difficulty awaiting one's turn
• Initiating conversations at inappropriate times (when it is clear that they should be listening to someone)
• Inability to delay responses until the consequence has been thought out

What’s the Difference?

Inattention is the inability to focus or concentrate on one subject. Much like a honey bee will fly from flower to flower collecting pollen your child's thoughts work the same way. Constantly bouncing from one thing to another without staying on one subject long enough to learn or more accurately absorb information.

Hyperactivity is when your child simply can’t stop moving for more than a few seconds. When they are forced to be seated in a classroom environment fidgeting, getting up to move around and even facial tics are common ways to blow off this excess energy, but they may have no problem paying attention for sustained periods of time.

The combination of These 2 disorders is seen in a child that is highly impulsive and unable to focus on any one thing for an extended period of time. This child is physically and mentally unprepared to sit and focus on one thing at a time.

What Should I Do if My Child Has Several ADHD Symptoms for Children?

As mentioned earlier most of these symptoms like interrupting and running around at inappropriate times could be considered a normal part of the life learning experience for kids. If you notice a number of signs that seem to happen all the time and everywhere that you go attention deficit could very well be the problem.

Its recommended that you see your physician for a professional diagnosis. There may be some other physical or mental issue to deal with so getting a proper diagnosis should be your absolute first step.  A child with ADHD that goes untreated can have difficulties not only in school, but later in life at work and with their personal relationships.

If your child is diagnosed you will then need to discuss treatment options with a specialist (which your doctor will most likely recommend). They may discuss medications with you, but that is not your only option. There are more natural methods with no side effects that you could use and possibly never need a prescription of any kind.