Symptoms of ADHD in an 8-Year Old

ADHD, short for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a medical condition that affects a child's brain. The disorder is three times more common in boys than in girls, and according to "Understanding ADHD" by Healthy Children, it affects between four to 12 percent of children. For a diagnosis to be made, symptoms must persist for at least six months, and must have started before the child turned seven. Symptoms are divided into three categories, those involving inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

Inattention in Children with ADHD

• Children with ADHD have a hard time focusing on a task.

  Children with ADHD have difficulty keeping their attention on any one thing. They often have trouble focusing on a task, easily lose things and are disorganized. An eight-year-old may have trouble finishing work, may struggle to listen and follow directions, and is generally forgetful and distracted. This inattention, particularly for an eight-year-old, often results in difficulty getting work done at school.

Hyperactivity is a Symptom of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• Children with ADHD rarely sit still.

  Hyperactivity, with its name right in the title, is an obvious challenge for any eight-year-old with ADHD. Keeping his hands and body still are extremely difficult, and the child may run, jump and climb at inappropriate times. This child is constantly in motion, and according to Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), in "Understanding ADHD" the child "acts as if driven by a motor." Parents often find themselves frustrated because the child will not play quietly, and is in constant motion.

Children with ADHD Struggle with Impulsivity

• Impulsive behavior often makes friendships difficult.

  Impulsivity is a major struggle for a child with ADHD. In "Attention Deficit Hyperacivity Disorder," the National Institute of Mental Health states that children often "have difficulty waiting for things they want or waiting their turns in games, and often interrupt conversations or others' activities." Because of this inability to control oneself, many children have a hard time making close friends. Impulsive children often speak without thinking, and touch other people and objects more than necessary. For many children with ADHD, impulsivity becomes a safety concern when a child acts before thinking, such as running in the street before looking for oncoming cars.