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Attention Deficit Symptoms

Many people with short attention spans believe they have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), but there's more to the disorder than simply being scatterbrained. ADD has specific symptoms that point to an accurate diagnosis.

  1. Terminology

    • ADD and ADHD are two names for the same disorder. There are three types of ADHD: Predominantly Inattentive, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive and Combined. People may use the term ADD to mean the inattentive type of ADHD.

    Hyperactive-Impulsive Symptoms

    • You may have excessive energy, feel like you can't be still, fidget a lot and interrupt people frequently. You may talk excessively or have trouble waiting your turn.

    Inattentive Symptoms

    • Inattentive symptoms include inability to focus, not completing tasks on time, not paying attention when people speak to you, making careless mistakes and being unusually forgetful.

    Diagnosis

    • In order to be diagnosed with ADD, your symptoms must have started before you were seven years old and have lasted at least six months. The symptoms must have a negative impact on at least two areas of your life, such as school, work, family or social situations.

    Risk Factors

    • Research suggests there is a strong genetic component to ADD; one in four people with ADD has a close relative with the disorder. Mothers who smoke or use drugs during pregnancy are more likely to have children with ADD as well, and exposure to lead during childhood can cause the disorder. Premature infants also have an increased risk of developing ADD.

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