BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
What You Need to Know About the Signs and Symptoms of
By J. Edwards Holt
ADHD
IF YOUR CHILD IS HAVING DIFFICULTY IN SCHOOL BECAUSE OF A SHORT ATTENTION SPAN AND HYPERACTIVITY, YOU MAY BE WONDERING IF THEY HAVE ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) OR ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER (ADD). THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW FOR SURE IS TO SEE A DOCTOR, BUT YOU CAN LOOK FOR THE SIGNS OF ADHD TO KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO GET CHECKED.
S
o, what is ADHD or ADD? This article will discuss the ADHD symptoms and what you need to understand about the commonly misunderstood condition.
What is ADHD or ADD? As previously mentioned, ADHD stands for attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder. It was previously known as ADD, or attention deficit disorder. It’s a common disorder that affects about 8.4 percent of children and 2.5 percent of adults. It’s typically characterized by inattentiveness or hyperactivity. Sometimes those who deal with ADHD deal with both of those things, but that isn’t always the case. Most people associate ADHD with school-aged children because hyperactive symptoms are more common and easier to identify at a young age. Those who experience ADHD have so much hyperactivity and lack of attentiveness that it causes problems functioning at school, home, or with friends.
How to identify the symptoms and signs of ADHD Inattentiveness and hyperactivity are the two main behavior problems associated with ADHD. Sometimes it’s a blend of the two symptoms, and sometimes they experience both. Children and adults often have similar ADHD symptoms. In children, you can usually identify the symptoms when they’re at home or school. If your child deals with inattentiveness, it may look like this: • Making careless mistakes in schoolwork • Being easily distracted and having a short attention span • Unable to complete tasks that are tedious or time-consuming • Losing things and being forgetful • Unable to listen to or carry out instructions • Constantly changing activities or tasks
Exceptional Needs Today | Issue 5 | 27
