Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Symptoms

Source: National Institute of Mental Health; NIH Publication No. 3572 (extract)

The principal characteristics of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

These symptoms appear early in a child's life. Because many normal children may have these symptoms, but at a low level, or the symptoms may be caused by another disorder, it is important that the child receive a thorough examination and appropriate diagnosis by a well-qualified professional.

Symptoms of ADHD will appear over the course of many months, often with the symptoms of impulsiveness and hyperactivity preceding those of inattention, which may not emerge for a year or more. Different symptoms may appear in different settings, depending on the demands the situation may pose for the child's self-control.

A child who "can't sit still" or is otherwise disruptive will be noticeable in school, but the inattentive daydreamer may be overlooked. The impulsive child who acts before thinking may be considered just a "discipline problem," while the child who is passive or sluggish may be viewed as merely unmotivated. Yet both may have different types of ADHD.

All children are sometimes restless, sometimes act without thinking, sometimes daydream the time away. When the child's hyperactivity, distractibility, poor concentration, or impulsivity begin to affect performance in school, social relationships with other children, or behavior at home, ADHD may be suspected. But because the symptoms vary so much across settings, ADHD is not easy to diagnose.

This is especially true when inattentiveness is the primary symptom.

According to the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), there are three patterns of behavior that indicate ADHD. People with ADHD may show several signs of being consistently inattentive. They may have a pattern of being hyperactive and impulsive far more than others of their age. Or they may show all three types of behavior. This means that there are three subtypes of ADHD recognized by professionals.

These are the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type (that does not show significant inattention); the predominantly inattentive type (that does not show significant hyperactive-impulsive behavior) sometimes called ADD—an outdated term for this entire disorder; and the combined type (that displays both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms).

Source: National Institute of Mental Health; NIH Publication No. 3572 (extract)
Added: 29th June 2007

Looking for help with a problem your child is having with ADHD?

If your child is suffering from an emotional or psychological health problem, then be assured... help is available.

Children with psychological or emotional difficulties such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often respond really well to the therapies available today that use the power of your child's imagination.

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often respond really well to things like hypnotherapy, where they get to enjoy using the power of their imagination. They often come away from hypnotherapy sessions feeling 'lighter'.

Avon Hypnotherapy's Paul Douglass describes the hypnotherapy sessions for children...

"They feel comfortable with a non-judgemental therapist, and can often allow themselves to express feelings of embarrasment, guilt or shame for example, that they can't 'offload' anywhere else.

The children often really enjoy the sessions, and indeed, the mums and dads that get involved often gain a lot from the session too!"

Read the full article: Hypnotherapy for Children, by Paul Douglass MIAPH Acc.

If you would like to find help for a child with ADHD, just get in touch using the contact form below, and we'll do what we can to put you in touch with a therapist in your area who is trained in treating children.

Looking for help with a problem?... Do get in touch... We're here to help...

If you're looking for help with an anxiety based problem, then we'll do what we can to help you.

There are lots of different ways we may be able to help you to feel better... we'd love to meet you for a chat at one of our practices, or, if you're not near us, there's the LifeShaping Process which is a superb, web based process that you can use at home!

If you're unsure where to start, or would just like to get in touch, just use the contact form below to tell us a bit about yourself, and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.