Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is often interchanged with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The signs and symptoms of ADD/ADHD usually appear before age seven, and can make efforts around movement, speech and concentration challenging. When a child shows more than six ADD/ADHD signs and symptoms across at home, school or play, it may be time to seek medical advice.
Attention
While some kids with ADD/ADHD can pay attention when the topic is interesting to them, most will quickly tune out when the topic is repetitive or boring, according to helpguide.org. Others appear to jump from task to task without completion or even skip a step. In order to sustain attention, many with ADD/ADHD must be in an environment that does not have any distractions. Symptoms to be on the lookout for include making careless mistakes, being easily distracted, appearing to not have heard what was said, difficulty remembering directions and following instructions, and trouble completing a project. Many ADD/ADHD children have trouble staying organized and frequently lose or misplace things.
Hyperactivity
Hyperactivity is perhaps the most well-known and obvious sign of ADD/ADHD. These children have difficulty sitting still, and even when forced will involuntarily tap their foot or fingers. These symptoms include fidgeting or squirming when seated, difficulty remaining seated when forced to do so and excessive movement when the situation calls for quiet or subdued movement, according to University of Maryland Medical System. These children as always "on the go" as if a motor is attached to the child.
Impulsivity
Children with ADD/ADHD behave impulsively. In school and at play, symptoms to be aware of including blurting out responses without waiting a turn, interrupting others, and intruding on the conversation and games of others. ADD/ADHD kids are less able than others to keep their emotions in check, which means that angry outbursts and temper tantrums may arise.
