Symptoms of ADHD in Children

Before we dive into the symptoms of ADHD, let’s figure out what ADHD actually means.

So, what is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), commonly known as attention deficit disorder or ADD, is characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. It’s natural for kids to forget their homework, daydream in class, act without thinking, or fidget at the dinner table from time to time but how do we distinguish normal kid behaviour from a kid suffering from ADHD?

ADHD may get a little confusing to people because of the many ways it may manifest, but it can be narrowed down to 3 subtypes. Here are the three types of ADHD, we must know.

Predominantly inattentive and distractible type ADHD- inattentive, procrastination, hesitation and forgetfulness.
Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive ADHD type – inattentive, hyperactive, or difficulty in controlling behaviour.
ADHD combined type – hyperactive, inattentive, and impulsive

ADHD symptoms usually appear at a young age and grow more obvious as a child’s circumstances change, such as when they start school. The majority of symptoms are discovered when kids are between the ages of 6 and 12. Although the symptoms of ADHD normally improve with age, many adults who were diagnosed with the disorder as a child continue to have issues.

So, what are these symptoms? ADHD can be divided into two categories-

1) Inattentiveness

Having a short attention span and being easily distracted
Making careless errors – for example, in schoolwork
Appearing forgetful or forgetting things
Being unable to stick to laborious or time-consuming chores
Appearing unable to listen to or follow directions
Unable to organize duties due to a continually changing activity or task

2) Impulsivity and hyperactivity

Being unable to sit still, particularly in a serene or quiet environment
Difficult to concentrate on work due to frequent fidgeting
Excessive talking excessive physical movement
Being unable to wait their turn to act without thinking, and thus disrupting talks
Little to no sense of danger.

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Are the symptoms of ADHD in boys different from girls?

Externalized symptoms, such as running and impulsivity, are common in boys with ADHD. Girls with ADHD, on the other hand, experience more internalized symptoms. Inattentiveness and low self-esteem are two of these symptoms. Boys are also more physically aggressive than girls, while girls are more verbally confrontational. Because girls with ADHD have fewer behavioural issues and less obvious symptoms, their problems are often overlooked.

The following behaviours in girls may indicate ADHD:

Cry more easily
Irritable
Interrupts or blurts out often
Struggling to finish the mundane task
‘Spaces out’ often
Easily distracted
Sensitive to certain sounds or feelings

At Empowerkidz, we make a concerted effort to raise awareness of ADHD in children, so that symptoms aren’t misinterpreted as mood swings, lethargy, shyness, attention-seeking behaviour, or simply being picky. There may be some underlying causes for these signs and symptoms.

Also Read: What is the relationship between ADHD and other learning disabilities?