Laboratory MedNews

Signs to help you draw the line between having a child that is naturally active and having a child who has ADHD. ADHD, also known as attention – deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a disorder that is common in school-aged children, and characterized by the triad of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity. A child who has ADHD need not manifest all three symptoms. In fact, ADHD is divided into three subtypes depending on which of the triad predominantly manifests in the child.

The subtypes of ADHD are the following:

1. ADHD Predominantly Inattentive
2. ADHD Predominantly Hyperactive Impulsive
3. ADHD Predominantly Combined

One thing that may be of great concern to a parent is that manifestations of ADHD can affect a child’s social functioning and academic performance. Often, it is the school teacher who first suspects that a child has ADHD.

The school teacher will most likely inform the parent with regards to the observed signs of ADHD. However, a lot of children who has ADHD are within a regular classroom setting, and most teachers in the regular classroom setting do not have special training with regards to detecting signs of children with special needs, in particular, children with ADHD. Thus, it will also be helpful to a parent to know such signs and symptoms to be able to have an idea if the child has ADHD.

Based on the DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for ADHD established by psychiatry experts, the following are “red flags” that can make a parent suspect that his or her child has ADHD:

• For the predominantly inattentive type:

1.      Child has poor attention span

(a child with less than 10 minutes focus to a particular task is said to have poor attention span)

2.      Child is very forgetful with details

3.      Child often complains of losing his things (like school supplies, toys, etc.)

4.      Child has problems with following instructions, as observed when answering exams or when child is instructed a particular chore (take note that inability to follow instructions is not because of inability to understand the instructions)

5.      Child often commits mistakes on school exams because of carelessness

6.      Child has difficulty in organizing things

7.      Child is unwilling to participate on tasks that require prolonged mental effort

• For the predominantly hyperactive – impulsive type:

1.      Child is excessively talkative

2.      Child seems never to run out of energy

3.      Child seems to always move about

4.      Child has difficulty to comply when asked to behave

5.      Child has cannot remain on his seat for long periods of time

6.      Child loves to butt into other people’s conversations

7.      Child butts into someone who is talking (answers questions before someone has finished asking)

8.      Child has trouble with taking turns

• A combination of the above signs and symptoms characterizes that a child who has ADHD is categorized in the predominantly combined subtype.

Parents, in collaboration with school teachers, must be watchful of these enumerated “red flags” in identifying if a child has ADHD. Although issues have been raised with regards to the effect of labeling a child with “having ADHD”, special educational needs might be met if we can identify that a child has ADHD. If a parent or concerned school teacher has suspicions that a child has ADHD, the professional that can best help with making a specific diagnosis is a developmental pediatrician.

(For more detailed readings on the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD, the complete criteria may be read on any psychology or psychiatry book)

This video was uploaded by Johnson and Johnson, which is about child ADHD.