ADHD Symptoms: Recognizing The Signs

It's not uncommon for a typical child to have ADHD symptoms. Most parents have vivid memories of their child saying inappropriate things or having the tact of a two year old. While these are normal behavior patterns in most kids, when they go outside of accepted norms, they may be symptoms of a neurological spectrum disorder, called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

While the exact causes of ADHD are not known, studies indicate that the symptoms are brought on by reduced activity in the part of the brain that regulates impulse control and "delayed gratification". It is estimated that somewhere between three and five percent of all children have ADHD symptoms. While it is more often diagnosed in boys, the condition is equally present in both genders of children and adults.

What Are Some of The Signs?

The inattentive aspects of the disorder are evident in people who lack focus and are horrible at organizing. Children with ADHD tend to be incapable of managing their lives at all without direct supervision by their parents or teachers. ADHD children are also prone to losing things, and ducking out of any task they consider "boring".

That being said, another impact of attention deficit disorder is "over attention". A child can get so wrapped up in a task that they can't be pulled away from it at all. On both ends of the equation, a child can't focus on certain things but the things he does focus on he holds onto like glue.

There is more to ADHD than just having an attention deficit. Impulsive children often talk too much, blurt out comments and readily speak their minds. Then there is the hyperactive child. They are many times seen running around and being fidgety. Children will always have times when they are talkative or bouncing off the walls, especially when they're excited or having a fun, but ADHD is usually called into question when a child simply can't tone it down or sit still for any length of time.

But before anyone quickly determines that a child has ADHD, one should first ask if any of the behaviors described above happen all the time regardless of circumstances. For example, to say that a child has ADHD because they have misbehaved on a long car ride is probably premature. On the other hand, if they are constantly getting written up by teachers, or negative comments are regularly being heard from daycare providers, it may be time to call to a doctor.

How About Adults?

As children with ADHD move on to adulthood, the hyperactive aspect of the disorder often goes away while the inattention is more likely to persist. This can lead to problems with meeting deadlines and difficulty with taking verbal or written instructions. Many adult ADHD sufferers get around this by moving into jobs that allow flexible thinking, creativity and "short deadlines. Adults who remain hyperactive will often channel that energy into exercise or physical work where having an "always on motor" can be a competitive advantage.

The Bottom Line

Once the ADHD symptoms become completely obvious you should immediately call your primary care physician to get an official diagnosis. Your doctor will be able to offer various treatment options or refer you to a specialist. It could be that you, or your child may not be suffering from ADHD at all. You could be experiencing symptoms from a related condition like depression or anxiety which will need to be managed in a completely different way.