Although children typically aren’t diagnosed until age five, there are signs and symptoms you can look for earlier if you suspect your son or daughter might have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The behavior, attention and concentration difficulties are present early, said Dr. John LaCount, a pediatrician at St. Elizabeth Physicians’ Florence location, but the diagnostic tests to detect ADHD don’t start until age five.
Statistics show that roughly 12% to 15% of kids will show symptoms of ADHD, but ADHD is not a one-size-fits-all disorder. There are two forms it can take: inattentive and hyperactive.
Signs of inattentive ADHD
- Doesn’t pay attention to details and makes careless mistakes
- Doesn’t focus on what needs to be done
- Doesn’t seem to listen when spoken to directly
- Doesn’t follow through with directions
- Doesn’t organize tasks
- Doesn’t want to do tasks that require mental effort
- Loses things required for tasks
- Distracts easily by stimuli or environment
- Forgets daily activities
Signs of hyperactive ADHD
- Fidgets with hands and feet
- Leaves seat when remaining seated is expected
- Runs about or climbs about when remaining seated is expected
- Has difficulty with play or beginning quiet play activities
- Is always on the go or acts like he or she is driven by a motor
- Talks too much
- Blurts out answers before questions have been completed
- Has trouble waiting his or her turn
- Interrupts or intrudes on others’ conversations or activities
If you recognize six or more of these signs, talk with your child’s pediatrician. Of course, a “fair number of kids will fall into both categories,” LaCount said.
While statistically ADHD is more common among boys than it is girls, that often is because girls aren’t diagnosed with it as much as boys are. Boys tend toward the hyperactivity form, while girls tend toward the inattentive, which is harder to detect and usually isn’t noticed until they’re older.
“Often, girls aren’t recognized as having it because they’re not troublemakers and aren’t doing poorly in school,” LaCount said, “but they aren’t organized and aren’t on task and then their grades start drifting.”
A fear that medication is the only intervention available also keeps some parents from reaching the proper ADHD diagnosis for their child.
“I try to encourage families that they don’t have to medicate if they don’t want,” LaCount said. “More important are a consistent home environment and home and school interventions and organization in the kid’s life.”
