ADHD Australia Incorporated

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Hyperactivity

One of the fundamental and most blatantly obvious symptoms of ADHD is the Hyperactivity. According to the DSM-IV:

• often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.

 

• often leaves seat in classroom or in other situation in which remaining seated is expected.

 

• often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate ( in adolescents or adults, may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness)

 

• often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor" often talks excessively.

 

What is important to appreciate here is that most children are hyperactive. Hyperactivity helps children to explore and learn. With ADHD, however, you are looking for developmentally inappropriate levels of hyperactivity - constant and persistent, across settings (home, school, clinicians office,...). No matter where they are, ADHD children are always "on the go".

 Inattention

One of the three main symptoms of ADHD is inattention. ADHD children are often accused (and sometimes guilty) of not paying attention and being easily distracted.

According to the DSM-IV (the most commonly used diagnostic criteria for ADHD), diagnostic criteria for impulsivity includes:

• Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities.

 

• Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities.

 

• Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behaviour or failure to understand instructions).

 

• Often has difficulty organising tasks and activities

 

• Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework).

 

Often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g., toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools). Is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli. Is often forgetful in daily activities.

What is important to understand is that most children are easily distractable and inattentive. Children with ADHD, however, display inappropriate levels of inattention and distactablity- constant and across settings (home, school, clinicians office,...). These children can never seen to stay on task.

 

As suggested above, inattention can lead to failure in finishing tasks. One famous example of this is the great Leonardo da Vinci. Although known for his painting, there are only 17 paintings (not drawings) that can be attributed to his 67 years as an artist, and some of these are incomplete. His tendency to leave projects unfinished reportedly resulted in Pope Leo X/s exasperated exclamation: "This man will never accomplish anything! He thinks of the end before the beginning". (Wallace, 1966, p.150).

 
Impulsivity

One of the three main symptoms of ADHD is impulsivity. ADHD children often appear to "act without thinking", which can sometimes get them in trouble...

 

 

According to the DSM-IV(the most commonly used diagnostic criteria for ADHD), diagnostic criteria for impulsivity includes:

 

• often blurts out answers before questions have been compleated.

 

• often has difficulty awaiting turn.

 

• often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., at school or work and at home).

This "acting without thinking" can often result in the child engaging in dangerous activities without considering the outcome.

All children generally display some level of impulsivity. Children with ADHD, however, consistantly exhibit developmentally inappropriate levels of impulsivity - constant and across settings (home, school, clinicians office,...).

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