Child ADHD

Understanding Mental Health

Learning about Mental Health Care

Description of Issues and Disorders

Specific Information for Children

Starting Services: Helpful Information

Advance Directive

Common Issues and Disorders for Children

Medication

Questions to ask Providers

children's mental health matters

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an illness characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The most commonly diagnosed behavior disorder in young persons, ADHD affects an estimated three percent to five percent of school-age children.

Although ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood, it is not a disorder limited to children. ADHD often persists into adolescence and adulthood and is frequently not diagnosed until later years.

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

There are actually three different types of ADHD, each with different symptoms: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and combined.

Those with the predominantly inattentive type often:

fail to pay close attention to details or make careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities
have difficulty sustaining attention to tasks or leisure activities
do not seem to listen when spoken to directly
do not follow through on instructions and fail to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace
have difficulty organizing tasks and activities
avoid, dislike, or are reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort
lose things necessary for tasks or activities
are easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
are forgetful in daily activities

Those with the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type often:

fidget with their hands or feet or squirm in their seat
leave their seat in situations in which remaining seated is expected
move excessively or feel restless during situations in which such behavior is inappropriate
have difficulty engaging in leisure activities quietly
are "on the go" or act as if "driven by a motor"
talk excessively
blurt out answers before questions have been completed
have difficulty awaiting their turn
interrupt or intrude on others

Those with the combined type, the most common type of ADHD, have a combination of the inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms.

Content courtesy of Mental Health Association of Maryland

Advanced Therapeutic Connections

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder