Recognizing ADHD Symptoms in Children

It's not unusual for young children to occasionally forget things, zone out in class, act impulsively, or feel restless during mealtime. However, when these behaviors are persistent and coincide with difficulty maintaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness, it may indicate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. ADHD is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition that generally appears during early childhood.

Studies show that approximately one in ten children aged 5 to 17 are diagnosed with ADHD nationwide. Symptoms often interfere with school performance, such as inattentiveness, losing possessions, and trouble focusing.

Research indicates that boys are more frequently diagnosed with ADHD than girls, primarily because hyperactivity is more prominent in boys’ behaviors. Some girls may show ADHD symptoms like excessive daydreaming or being overly talkative, but such signs are less common. In girls, the disorder might appear as persistent fantasy-prone behavior or talkativeness.

It's important for parents to understand that many behaviors associated with ADHD can be typical childhood actions and vary among children. Because of this variability, diagnosis can be challenging. If undetected, ADHD symptoms can persist and cause issues at home, school, and socially.

Common signs of ADHD include:

Fidgeting often

Talking excessively

Frequently losing or forgetting items

Making careless mistakes

Struggling to resist temptations

Engaging in risky behaviors

Having difficulty with social interactions

Daydreaming frequently

ADHD Types

The American Psychological Association (APA) categorizes ADHD into three main types for consistent diagnosis.

Predominantly inattentive

Children with this form of ADHD struggle to focus on tasks, complete ongoing activities, or follow simple instructions. Interestingly, many children with this subtype go undiagnosed during childhood because they do not exhibit disruptive behaviors. Research suggests this inattentive type is more common in girls.

Hyperactive-impulsive

This type is characterized by constant fidgeting and excessive talking. Sitting still during meals or study time is difficult. These children may feel restless, interrupt conversations, grab toys from peers, or speak out of turn. Their hyperactivity often leads to more accidents and injuries. While inattentiveness isn't a primary issue here, focusing on specific tasks can still be a challenge.

Combined type

This is the most frequent form seen in children, where symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity are present.