15 Signs Your Child May Have ADHD - ADHD and Your Child - Everyday Health

15 Signs Your Child May Have ADHD - ADHD and Your Child - Everyday Health
Is your child's fidgeting and inattention just normal childhood behavior or could it be ADHD? Learn the signs that it might be time to have your child evaluated.
By Beth W. Orenstein
Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

These are the sign's my grandson experienced AFTER he was put on Adderall by NH DCYF!


15 Warning Signs of ADHD

According to the criteria that the American Academy of Pediatrics uses for the diagnosis of this mental disorder, children must exhibit ADHD behaviors before the age of seven and consistently for at least six months. Here are 15 signs that your child may have ADHD:

Fidgets or squirms almost all the time. Children with ADHD are constantly moving their hands, arms, feet, and legs. They squirm a lot.
Can’t sit in the same place for any length of time. A common symptom of children with ADHD is that they have trouble sitting still, Davenport says. They may get up at times when they know they are expected to stay seated.
Doesn’t learn from experience. “These are the kids that you find yourself saying, ‘If I told you once, I told you a thousand times,’” Davenport says.
Runs and climbs excessively. In teenagers, this symptom is often described as restlessness.
Can’t wait her turn. The child cuts in line and butts into games other children may be playing.
Interrupts others. Children with ADHD have trouble taking turns speaking and often blurt out answers. When they interrupt, they don’t realize they’re doing it, Davenport says.
Has trouble following directions, no matter how simple.
Seems not to listen when spoken to directly. You may ask your child over and over again to clean up his toys or to brush his teeth, and he can’t focus enough to respond and do what you say, Davenport says.
Loses possessions. The child often loses things needed for school or at home, such as toys, pencils, books, or homework.
Is disorganized. The child can’t organize tasks or activities so that he can complete them.
Is unfocused. She is reluctant to do things that require thinking, such as homework or schoolwork.
Can’t plan ahead. For example, your child may forget to bring home the books he needs for homework.
Is forgetful. She may frequently forget to bring her lunch to school.
Is unable to focus attention on activities or details. Children with ADHD are likely to lose interest in what they’re doing after about 20 minutes, sometimes even sooner, Davenport says. They constantly go from one activity to another.
Goes off in his own world. You might suspect your child has ADHD if, when he is climbing on the sofa or jumping on the bed, he goes off into a world of his own and doesn’t respond when you tell him to stop. Your child may appear to be daydreaming frequently