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Symptoms of Childhood ADD

Attention deficit disorder (ADD), sometimes referred to as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is a disorder that causes problems with the inhibition of spontaneous responses. This lack of inhibitions leads to several symptoms that can negatively affect a child's life.

  1. Significance

    • When left untreated, ADD symptoms can cause problems at home and school. Learning, making and keeping friends, and getting things done in general are difficult for a child with untreated ADD.

    Types

    • There are two basic types of ADD: hyperactive and inattentive. These types cause the same basic problems, but vary widely in symptoms.

    Features

    • ADD has three symptoms that vary in intensity from child to child: inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. These symptoms are often combined together, and not all three are present in every case of ADD.

    Identification

    • Inattentive-ADD causes problems with following directions, finishing projects, organizing, losing things, being distracted and making careless mistakes. Hyperactive-ADD is far easier to detect, as the children will usually be highly disruptive, squirm and fidget constantly, and will talk excessively.

    Time Frame

    • The signs and symptoms of ADD or ADHD typically surface before the age of seven.

    Considerations

    • All children have some symptoms of ADD. If the symptoms don't exist in all situations, it's probably not ADD.

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