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Signs of ADHDCommon Signs and Symptoms of ADHD
If you are worried about your child’s behavior, you can check for signs of ADHD. Which of the following symptoms seem to apply to your child? Keep track using this checklist.
My child often...
In school, my child often...
If some of these behaviors often apply to your child, talk with your child’s doctor. When you visit the doctor, take this checklist with you. Only a healthcare professional can tell whether your child’s behavior is normal, could have ADHD or a different disorder. If you are worried about your child’s behavior, ask your child’s doctor for help! Your child’s doctor may refer you to child psychiatrist or other physician trained to diagnose ADHD. The health care professional who evaluates your child may review records and reports from other professionals, including:
ADHD in Adults
Sometimes when a child is diagnosed with ADHD, a parent may recognize that he or she has many of the same symptoms. Diagnosing ADHD in an adult is not easy. For an accurate diagnosis, a psychiatrist or other physician with expertise in adult ADHD should do each of the following:
Accompanying Conditions
Tourettte’s disorder. A small percentage of people with ADHD have a neurological disorder involving various nervous tics and mannerisms. Depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. An anxious child, for example, may pretend to be sick, refuse to go to school, or cling to a parent. Depressed children have trouble with moods. Some may appear sad. Others may sulk, get into trouble at school, act negative, or show a lot of anger. Behavioral disorder. Many children with ADHD have oppositional defiant disorder, a behavioral disorder that involves defiance, arguing with adults, and refusing to obey. Some ADHD children may eventually develop a more serious condition called conduct disorder, which can involve aggressiveness, bullying, lying, stealing, vandalism, eventual substance abuse, and other serious problems. Children with conduct disorder need immediate help. Getting treatment for accompanying conditions can make it easier to manage ADHD. The reverse is also true: Getting the right treatment for ADHD can be helpful for managing an accompanying disorder. DCDays.com would like to give a special thanks to The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for this informational article. You can contact them at: 3615 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016-3007 voice: 202-966-7300 fax: 202-966-2891. |
Many children have trouble sitting still. Many children don’t finish things,
and many get distracted easily. A child with ADHD shows these symptoms and behaviors more often and more
strongly than other children at the same age or the same developmental level.
If your child has ADHD, getting it diagnosed and treated can make a big difference
for your child and yoru family. Untreated ADHD can lead to problems with learning , friendships, and family
life. It can also lead to substance abuse and serious accidents. Getting treatment can reduce symptoms and
help your child do better at school, with friends, and at home.
Learning disability. About 20 to 30 percent of children with ADHD also
have a learning disability such as a reading disorder called dyslexia, or disabilities that
involve writing, spelling, or arithmetic.
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