Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder that affects millions of children in the United States, according to the Mayo Clinic. Although the symptoms of ADHD, also known as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), usually surface by the age of 7, the disorder is chronic and can last into adulthood. The three main symptoms--including inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity--are behavioral but are revealed as physical symptoms that can affect everyday activities.
Constant in Motion
People who suffer from ADHD seem to be constantly in motion. If expected to remain seated, such as in a classroom or work situation, they continually get out of their chairs, even when they known it will get them into trouble. While seated, they fidget by tapping their feet or playing with their hands or fiddling with things like pencils.
The DSM-IV criteria created by the American Psychiatric Association and described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes this as seeming to be "driven by a motor." In the more extreme cases, people with ADHD run around touching items and have difficulty taking part in quiet activities.
Excessive Talking
Some people are shy and prefer not to take part in conversations, while others enjoy the art of conversation. People with ADHD talk non-stop but do not converse. They have difficulty following a conversation and often seem as though they are not paying attention, even when directly spoken to. They interrupt often--they do not realize others are still speaking.
The non-stop talking is usually not a coherent story because their thoughts are not well organized. Information often is given out of order or out of context, and some parts are repeated. This behavior also leads to random comments blurted out and answers shouted before a question is even asked.
Disorganization
Another symptom of ADHD is perpetual disorganization. Patients often cannot find things because they do not remember where they placed them. This usually happens because they failed to take the time to put things away in proper places. This leads to important items such as school work, books, tools or keys being misplaced.
Disorganization may lead to messy rooms or workspaces. It also results in incomplete assignments and projects. People with ADHD also have trouble organizing activities and may plan more than one thing at a time and miss events--even important ones.
