Many people think that ADHD signs include children or adults that are disruptive and totally out of control. While this can occur in some cases of this disorder, this isn’t the only potential picture. Some kids that deal with ADHD can show signs of hyperactivity, but not all of them. Others may simply sit quietly while their attention is miles and miles away. Yet other children may focus too hard on one task, which can make it difficult for them to go on to something else. In some cases, children may be overly impulsive, but only mildly inattentive.

It’s important to realize that there are three different primary characteristics of ADHD. They include impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention. The symptoms and signs can vary from child to child, depending on the predominant characteristics that they may have. Some children are inattentive, but they are not impulsive or hyperactive at all. Other children may be able to pay attention but they are impulsive and hyperactive. Last, kids can have the combination of being hyperactive, impulsive, and inattentive. When children only have the inattentive symptom of this disorder, sometimes they are overlooked, since they don’t cause disruptions. Of course, even children who only suffer from inattention can have problems, such as under-performing in school, not correctly following directions, and not playing by the rules, which causes clashes with other people.

While children are young, we often expect hyperactivity and easy distraction. However, it is their impulsiveness that often really shows in younger children that deal with ADHD. As children grow older, most learn to avoid saying everything they think, to pay attention to other people, and to sit quietly when they have to. For this reason, by the time children end up in school, all three behaviors often stand out. To help parents of children with ADHD, here is a look at all three of the characteristics of ADHD and the ADHD signs that go along with those characteristics. Read the rest of this entry »