Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Symptoms of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

ADHD defines a type of behaviour that is at the extreme end of the normal range. All of these symptoms can be normal human characteristics. ADHD is diagnosed if the degree of a number of these characteristics is above the normal level.

The main characteristics are:

• short attention span, inattention, difficulty concentrating, easily distracted, restless, 
•  disorganised, difficulty completing a specific task, difficulty in sitting still,
•  hyperactivity - overactive, high activity levels, 
•  impulsive behaviour , suddenly doing things without thinking,  little sense of danger
•  learning problems due to lack of attention, language and speech problems, although ADHD is not related to intelligence, and
•  delayed social skills, difficulty making friends, disruptive in play, find it hard to await their turn in games

A child with ADHD is not able to process information in the same way as other children. They may continually fidget and because they can’t concentrate, they become bored quickly. This behaviour is usually first noticed at approximately five years old, with the behaviour occurring at home, at school and in other settings.

Some children have significant problems concentrating and paying attention but are not necessarily overactive or impulsive. These children are sometimes described as having Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) rather than ADHD. ADD can easily be missed because the child is quiet and dreamy rather than disruptive.

It is important to seek treatment for your child. Around 70% of children with ADHD still have symptoms when they are adolescents and about 70% of those will have symptoms as adults.

The main symptoms of ADHD, such as attention difficulties, may improve as the child gets older, but behavioural problems such as disobedience or aggression may become worse if the child does not receive help. Adolescents may find it difficult to make friends and keep them, do poorly at school, may behave aggressively and are more likely to get depressed. Again if left untreated many will continue to have symptoms of the disorder that significantly interfere with their social and working lives as an adult.

• AbortionAbscessAccident and emergency departmentsAccidents and first aidAccidents to children in the homeAcneAcoustic neuromaActinomycosisAcupunctureAddictionsAddison's diseaseAdenoids and adenoidectomyAgoraphobiaAir embolismAlcohol misuseAllergiesAltitude sicknessAlzheimer's diseaseAmbulance ServiceAmniocentesisAmniotomyAmoebiasisAnaemiaAnaesthesiaAnaesthetic, generalAnaesthetic, localAnal fissureAnal fistulaAnaphylaxisAndrogen insensitivity syndromeAneurysmAnginaAngioedemaAngiographyAnkylosing spondylitisAnorexia nervosaAntacid drugsAntenatal careAntenatal screeningAnti-inflammatories, non-steroidalAnticoagulant drugsAntidepressant drugsAntifungal drugsAntihistamine drugsAnxietyAphasiaApnoeaAppendicitisArthritisArthroscopyArtificial inseminationAsbestosisAspergillosisAsthmaAstigmatismAtherosclerosisAthlete's footAtrial fibrillationAttention deficit hyperactivity disorderAutism

  ---