Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurobehavioral disorder where inattention or an inability to concentrate and hyperactive behavior exist together. It is a developmental disorder and one of the common chronic disorders in children. It is often diagnosed in early childhood. In 60% of cases of attention deficit disorder, the symptoms continue well into adolescence.
Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
People affected by this developmental disorder are extremely impulsive and display hyperactive behavior. They are unable to concentrate and are often termed as inattentive.
Symptoms of Hyperactive Behavior
Hyperactive behavior is a marked symptom of attention deficit disorder. The symptoms of hyperactive behavior are mentioned below:
- Excessive fidgety behavior.
- Difficulty to remain in seats.
- Constant squirming in their seats.
- Restless behavior.
- Dashing around, touching things and playing with anything and everything around them.
- They have to be constantly in motion or “on the go”.
- Difficulty to play or do things in a quiet manner.
- Talk constantly.
- Symptoms of hyperactive behavior first appear by the age of 4 years. The hyperactive behavior becomes more evident by the age of 7 years.
Symptoms of Impulsive Tendency
The individuals affected by this disorder often show a tendency to impulsive behavior.The symptoms of impulsive tendency are mentioned below:
- Disruptive behavior in the classrooms.
- Blurting out things.
- Inability to control emotions.
- Speaking inappropriately at times without thinking of the consequences.
- Inability to take turns.
- Impatient and restless.
- Accidental injury as a result of impulsive tendency
- Peer rejection.
- Inability to form friendships.
- Symptoms of Inattentive Behavior
Some of the characteristic symptoms of inattentive behavior are mentioned below:
- Inability to concentrate.
- Seems he is not listening when spoken to.
- Cannot concentrate at more than one thing at a time.
- Lacking in homework and completion of school or work assignments.
- Easily distracted by external stimuli such as noise.
- Cannot concentrate on things when lots of things are going around them.
- Has a tendency to daydream and gets confused easily.
- Forgets things easily.
- Loses things as cannot remember where he kept them.
- Unable to pay attention to details.
- Trouble organizing his work.
- Poor academic performance.
- Inability to follow instructions, perform simple household chores and duties.
- Show a dislike for games and tasks that involve mental effort.
- Symptoms of concentration difficulties are more evident by the age of 7 years.
The symptoms of attention deficit hyperactive disorder vary greatly in individuals in terms of the number of the symptoms present as well as the intensity and severity of the symptoms. But the major characteristics are hyperactive-impulsive behavior and inability to concentrate or inattentive behavior. According to the prominence and severity of these characteristic traits, attention deficit hyperactive disorder is classified into three major types:
Type 1: Predominantly hyperactive type
Type 2: Predominantly inattentive type
Type 3: Combined type of hyperactive and inattentive behavior