Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a mental disorder of the neuro-developmental type. It is characterized by excessive activity, problems paying attention, or difficulty controlling behavior which is not appropriate for a person’s age. Although the symptoms of ADHD begin in childhood, ADHD can continue into adolescence and adulthood. Even though hyperactivity tends to improve as a child reach adolescence but the problem with inattention, disorganization, and poor impulse control often continues.
There are three major types of ADHD:
• Primarily Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD
• Primarily Inattentive ADHD
• Combined Type ADHD
The types of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are diagnosed by identifying and observing different symptoms. Both teachers and parents need to identify and understand these symptoms, as early identification is one of the best ways to help a child with ADHD. To be diagnosed with any type of ADHD, a child must exhibit at least six of the symptoms mentioned under each type within a period of six months with the onset of symptoms seen before the age of 12 years.
[su_box title=”Primarily Hyperactive-Impulsive Type ADHD” style=”bubbles” box_color=”#7c0c0b” radius=”2″]
Hyperactive-Impulsive Type ADHD is characterized by impulsive and hyperactive behaviors without inattention and distractibility. People with hyperactive ADHD are pretty easy to spot as they are constantly on the move.
1) Fidgeting and Squirming
Children with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD often can’t sit still, especially for a longer period. They may fidget with hands, or taps hands and feet or squirm in their chair when forced to sit. He often feels to pick up everything and play with it. They are constantly “on the go”.
2) Trouble staying seated
A child with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD may feel the need for constant movement has trouble staying in his or her chair. They often get up and move around when they are supposed to be seated. They may walk away from the classroom in the middle of a lesson. They cannot remain seated in one place for long.
3) Inappropriate running/climbing
A child with Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD is often found climbing on things, running around, crashing into walls and furniture or other inappropriate places displaying restlessness.
4) Difficulty playing quietly
Children with ADHD often found it difficult to remain quiet during playtime or leisure activities. This can be observed during naptime, at recess, or while playing with friends. They are often humming or singing, or even talking to themselves.
5) Impulsive Reactions
Children with Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD struggle with impulsivity often blurt out comments, thoughts or responses at inappropriate times. They even answer before questions have been completed.
6) Excessive talking
A child with Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD might talk excessively. It seems like they never stop talking. They struggle engaging in quiet activities
7) Lack of patience
Children with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD may be impatient. These children face trouble to wait for their turn, standing in line, or, indulging themselves in long-term projects or tasks.
8) Inability to filter thoughts
A child with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD struggles to filter his or her thoughts which disrupt daily communication and they often contribute irrelevant information.
9) Frequent interruption
Children with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD interrupt or intrude on others. They often indulge themselves in conversations they didn’t even belong to, talk over others, or intrude on games or activities. A child might use others’ things without hesitation or seeking permission.
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[su_box title=”Primarily Inattentive Type ADHD” style=”bubbles” box_color=”#7c0c0b” radius=”2″]
Inattentive Type ADHD is characterized predominately by inattention and distractibility without hyperactivity. Unlike hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, inattentive ADHD is often overlooked as children without ADHD can present similar behaviors from time to time.
1) Lack of attention to detail
A child with inattentive ADHD may not pay attention to classroom assignments or household work. The child will make consistent careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities or will rarely complete a task thoroughly. A child may rush through a quiz, miss questions he knows the answers to or skips the whole sections in his haste.
2) Trouble staying focused
A child with inattentive ADHD has difficulty in sustaining attention during tasks or play activities, or long-term projects.
3) Poor Listening Skills
A child with inattentive ADHD may consistently zone out, or get lost in their thoughts. The child struggles to listen when spoken to or they are mentally elsewhere. Students typically get about half the instructions given to them verbally, and they may need to record and listen to lectures several times to get all of the information.
4) Difficulty following instructions
A child with inattentive ADHD commonly finds it challenging to follow instructions or rules in the classroom and fails to finish tasks or to perform them in a specific manner. Children may have the right answers but are completely unaware of how to arrive at their conclusions.
5) Lack of organization
Children with inattentive ADHD have difficulty in organizing tasks or time management which leads to stress, mood swings, or anger. Lack of organization is often displayed as difficulty with keeping track of objects, setting goals, cleaning, multitasking, making complex decisions, and remembering appointments or instructions.
6) Easily distracted
A child with inattentive ADHD becomes easily distracted by extraneous stimuli. It is most noticeable when the child is, playing with friends, telling a story or watching TV.
7) Forgetfulness
One of the most common symptoms of inattentive ADHD is repeated forgetfulness which can result in the complete omission of critical tasks or steps in a process. It can also continue into adulthood to cause struggle in paying bills on time, missed appointments, or essential job duties.
8) Often misplacing possessions
A child with inattentive ADHD might regularly lose pencils, papers, or other items necessary for school or general daily activities. These children display a high level of misplacement of important items, such as keys, toys, books, writing utensils, outerwear, or glasses.
9) Difficulty sustaining mental effort
A child with inattentive ADHD Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to perform tasks and activities that require concentration or long-term focus. These children even completely avoid activities that call for sustain mental efforts, such as completing forms or writing assignments, schoolwork, or homework.
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[su_box title=”Combined Type ADHD” style=”bubbles” box_color=”#7c0c0b” radius=”2″]
Combined Type ADHD is characterized by impulsive and hyperactive behaviors as well as inattention and distractibility. People with combined-type ADHD will have at least six symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/ impulsivity type of ADHD each.
Children with combined presentation ADHD display less difficulty with hyperactivity and impulsivity as they reach adolescence. Children with combined presentation ADHD are easier to identify as they are impulsively interrupting others, fidgeting in their seats, misplaced belongings, and intermittently spacing out. They may find school extremely difficult and often show their frustrations with a poor attitude. The behavior often interferes with how your child functions at home, school, work, and in social situations.
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For more information, you can visit MayoClinic and stanfordchildrens.org.
