ADHD Symptoms

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a group of behavioural symptoms that include inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is a type of ADHD.

Common symptoms of ADHD include:

* a short attention span
* restlessness
* being easily distracted
* constant fidgeting

Many people with ADHD also have additional problems, such as sleep disorders or learning difficulties. However, ADHD has no effect on intelligence.

How common is ADHD?

ADHD is the most common behavioural disorder in the UK. It is estimated that the condition affects 3–9% of school-aged children and young people. Worldwide, around 2% of adults may be affected by ADHD.

Symptoms of ADHD tend to start at an early age, and they may become more noticeable when a child's circumstances change, such as starting school. ADHD is normally diagnosed between the ages of three to seven, although in some cases it may not be until much later. It is more commonly diagnosed in boys.

It is still uncertain whether ADHD can occur in adults without first appearing in childhood.

he symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be categorised into two sets of behavioural problems:

* symptoms of inattentiveness
* symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsiveness

It is not fully understood whether these problems are an extreme form of normal behaviour, or part of a separate range of behaviour.
Types of ADHD

A person with ADHD usually has symptoms characteristic of one of the three subtypes of the condition. The subtypes are:

* ADHD mainly inattentive
* ADHD mainly hyperactive-impulsive
* ADHD combined

If your child has symptoms of all three behavioural problems – inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness – they may have ADHD combined, which is the most common subtype of ADHD.

Alternatively, if your child has symptoms of inattentiveness but not hyperactivity or impulsiveness, they may have ADHD mainly inattentive. This form of ADHD is also known as attention deficit disorder (ADD).

Childhood ADHD is more commonly diagnosed in boys than in girls, but this may be because disruptive behaviour, which the diagnosis may be partly based on, tends to be more common in boys than girls.

Girls with ADHD often have the mainly inattentive form of the condition, which may make them quiet and dreamy and can sometimes go unnoticed. It is therefore possible that ADHD could be underdiagnosed in girls, and could be more common than previously thought.

Symptoms in children and teenagers

The symptoms of ADHD in children and teenagers are well defined. The main symptoms of each behavioural problem are detailed below.
Inattentiveness

The main symptoms of inattentiveness are:

* a very short attention span
* being very easily distracted
* making careless mistakes, for example in schoolwork
* appearing forgetful or losing things
* being unable to stick at tasks that are tedious or time consuming
* being unable to listen to or carry out instructions
* being unable to concentrate
* constantly changing activity or task
* having difficulty organising tasks

Hyperactivity

The main symptoms of hyperactivity are:

* being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings
* constantly fidgeting
* being unable to settle to tasks
* excessive physical movement
* excessive talking

Impulsiveness

The main symptoms of impulsiveness are:

* being unable to wait for a turn
* acting without thinking
* interrupting conversations
* breaking any set rules
* little or no sense of danger

If your child has ADHD, their symptoms usually become noticeable before the age of seven, with a diagnosis usually made between the ages of three and seven.

ADHD can cause problems in a child's life, and can often lead to underachievement at school, poor social interaction with other children and adults and problems with discipline.

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My son has this and it is a disability that not many people know much about and it is hard work, when he is often labelled as a naughty child because people just dont understand