ADHD
Signs and Symptoms
This is a guideline of some of the signs and symptoms that are associated with ADHD. Use this guide to tick any of the signs or symptoms that you have often witnessed in your child. Six (6) or more ticks may indicate that you should seek professional advice: Tick:
- Often does not give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities.
- Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities.
- Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
- Often does not follow instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace.
- Often has trouble organizing oneself, schoolwork, activities.
- Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn't want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).
- Often loses things like, toys or school equipment.
- Is often easily distracted.
- Often forgetful in daily activities.
- Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
- Often gets up from seat, runs about or climbs when and where it is not appropriate.
- Often has trouble playing or enjoying leisure activities quietly.
- Is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor".
- Often talks excessively.
- Often blurts out answers before questions have been finished.
- Often has trouble waiting one's turn.
- Often interrupts or intrudes on others
* Items based on DSM-IV-TR criteria for ADHD (2000)
** Please note that this document is not a tool to be used in order to diagnose ADHD. Rather, to be used as a general guide in order to provide a clearer indication of a possible reason behind certain behaviours. It is recommended that if you suspect your child suffers from any medical condition that you seek the appropriate medical advice.
Other possible diagnosis Primary contact
For a diagnosis of ADHD, the following list of conditions has been identified as possibilities to consider during the diagnostic process for ADHD:
• Normal child behaviour – small children generally have short attention spans- not every active child is actually hyperactive; not every shy or day-dreaming child is inattentive.
• Giftedness (High intelligence) - gifted children may be bored or restless in class giving the appearance of symptoms similar to ADHD.
• Emotional problems
• Allergies - food allergies/intolerance
• Hearing or Vision problems
• Depression
• Oppositional defiant disorder or Conduct disorder
• Anxiety disorders - These may involve inattention
• Mood disorders - These may involve inattention
• Learning
