Signs & Symptoms of ADD in Preschool Children

Attention deficit disorder, or ADD, is categorized as a disorder diagnosed in childhood by the American Psychiatric Association. Its predominant feature is inattentive behaviors, but can include hyperactivity and impulsive actions. ADD causes impairments before the age of 7, but some children are not diagnosed until after the symptoms have been present for a few years. With higher standards in education, children are now being monitored and referred for a diagnosis as soon as they enter school.

Inattention

• Inattention can create difficulties in school for a child because he may become easily distracted by noises or visual materials around the classroom. He may not pay close attention to details, may make careless mistakes in schoolwork and may also forget daily activities. He may appear oppositional because he may often avoid, dislike or be reluctant to engage in tasks or activities that require sustained thought. When sustained attention is required, he may either appear distracted or appear not to be listening when spoken to directly. Homework and chores can be a challenge because he may not follow through on instructions and fail to finish assignments or duties. The inattentive child also has trouble organizing tasks and activities, causing him to lose things unnecessarily.

Hyperactivity-Impulsivity

• Although hyperactive and impulsive features are not predominantly common in attention deficit disorder, the symptoms can be present. However, when a diagnosis of ADD is made, the child must demonstrate fewer than six hyperactive and impulsive symptoms. When hyperactivity or impulsive behavior is present, the child may fidget, stand up without permission, run around or climb on furniture. He may have difficulty playing appropriately with peers because he may be viewed as being too loud, annoying or talkative. Hyperactive symptoms can cause a child to appear as if he is always moving. Because of the impulsive features, he may be unable to wait his turn without intruding on others. During whole-group instruction, he may often blurt out answers before the teacher can finish asking questions.

Impairments

• When a diagnosis of ADD is made, the doctor or psychologist must determine that the impairments occur at home and in school or daycare settings. When a child exhibits the symptoms of ADD in one setting but not the other, the diagnosis cannot be made because there may be a reason for the symptoms. Oftentimes, the child is simply bored and becomes lost in his own world.

The Rule Out Rule

• According to the American Psychiatric Association, the symptoms of ADD do not occur exclusively during the course of a pervasive developmental disorder, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder. They also are not better accounted for by another mental disorder. This criterion is especially important for preschool children because it makes the diagnosis definitive. At times, a child who is inattentive and lost in his thoughts may actually be showing characteristics of a pervasive developmental disorder. If that is the case, further assessments need to be conducted to rule out that diagnosis.