By: Austin Andrews
One of the most common questions that parents and teachers ask me
is, “What are the symptoms of ADHD?”This is a very important question. Parents want to understand if their child has a real learning disability or not.
They are also concerned about their child being ADD/ADHD because it
also brings up the discussion of treatment and whether or not their child needs to
be medicated. More and more studies are coming out on the side effects
of ADHD/ADD and parents are concerned. Medication should be avoided at all costs!
Early Symptoms of ADHD
Often, a child starts showing signs and symptoms of ADHD in the
elementary school years when the symptoms are adversely affecting
performance at school. Most medical/health professionals agree that it
is difficult to diagnose children younger than 4 or 5 years old because
typical behavior at this age is much more varying than that of older
children and may often include features that are similar to ADHD
symptoms.
DSM-IV
According to the DSM-IV (which is a guide for mental health
professionals that lists many different mental/physical disorders and the criteria for diagnosing
them) the key feature of ADHD is a persistent pattern of inattentive,
hyperactive, or impulsive behavior that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable stage of development.
There must also be clear evidence that the symptoms of ADHD
interfere with the development of appropriate social, academic, or occupational
functioning. According to professional diagnosis standards, hyperactive behavior
may be demonstrated by fidgeting or "squirming" in one's seat, by not
remaining seated when expected to do so, by excessive running or climbing when in
situations where it is considered to be inappropriate.
Pre-school aged children may display this type of behavior to a much
more marked degree when compared with same-age peers. At this age, the
hyperactive child is constantly on the go, gets into everything, jumping and climbing
excessively.
School-aged children may show hyperactivity in the form of having
trouble remaining seated, getting up frequently, fidgeting with objects,
tapping their hands, squirming in their seats, and shaking their hands,
legs, or feet.
Impulsive Behavior will often appear as impatience, difficulty in
delaying responses, a child who blurts out an answer in class before the
teacher can even complete the question.
Other symptoms of ADHD include not being able to wait one's turn
and, frequently interrupting or intruding on others objects away from
other kids, and handing things they are not supposed to.
The DSM-IV-TR provides mental health professionals with a list of
general behaviors that are exhibited by those with ADHD and hyperactivity.
Hyperactivity and Impulsivity are noted together below, with children
needing to display at six of the behaviors listed below and persisting
for at least a period of 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive and
inconsistent with developmental level.
Due to the medical nature of ADHD, only health professionals are
qualified to determine if the behavior the child is exhibiting meets the following
qualifications for ADHD as an official diagnosis:
--Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
--Often gets up from seat when remaining in seat is expected.
--Often 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.
ADHD Symptoms of Impulsivity include:
--Often blurts out answers before questions have been finished.
--Often has trouble waiting one's turn.
--Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations
or games).
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For more information on helping your child with ADHD succeed without
using harmful medication, visit http://adhdanswers.org/. Your child’s
ADHD can be treated naturally!
