Also referred to as ADHD, ADD is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders in childhood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although the exact cause of this disorder is not known, the CDC states that genetics may play a role, as do brain injuries, low birth weights and premature births. Its symptoms are broken into three categories: impulsiveness, inattention and hyperactivity.
Hyperactivity
Maybe one of the best-known symptoms of ADD, hyperactivity comes in many forms, including both physical and verbal.
When presented in the physical form, you may notice your child is unable to sit still long enough to eat her dinner or watch her favorite television show. She may appear as though she has an invisible motor that is giving her an insatiable amount of energy.
In school, her endless energy may get her into trouble until an official ADD diagnosis is given and her teacher understands the reason behind the movement. Until then, her inability to sit still during a story or when told to complete a certain task at her seat may become a problem. When made to sit still, she will still find a way to move, whether that is tapping her foot or her fingers.
Another physical characteristic of her hyperactivity may manifest in a way that poses dangerous situations for her. This may include leaping off the top of a slide or running full force toward a busy street without giving thought to the cars driving past her.
Verbally, her hyperactivity shows in the amount of time she spends talking. You notice she speaks not only excessively, but also rapidly. This may make it difficult for you to understand what she is speaking about, as she also has the tendency to jump from one topic to another every couple of minutes.
Inattention
Inattention is a symptom of ADD that may have the worst affect on your child, as his inability to focus and concentrate makes it difficult to learn new tasks.
While in school, he may appear as if he is daydreaming, but he is simply bored because of a lack of understanding and frustration. He may also appear as if he does not hear his name when being called on; this is not true, either.
A teacher may see that he is making simple mistakes; this is because he does not pay close attention to small details. And if the task is repetitive or he finds it to be boring, he will tune out the instructions or begin jumping to other tasks instead, leaving many tasks incomplete.
At home, it is common for him to be disorganized and to lose items easily. This can include everything from his pencils to his favorite toy. When you give him instructions or tell him what you would like for him to do (such as chores), he may appear to not be listening to you as well. This is not the case; he is just overwhelmed with too many instructions at once and may require you to give him one task at a time to complete rather than a list.
Finally, when it comes time to completing his homework, you may notice that he is easily distracted, especially when his environment is noisy or chaotic--this is normal for a child with ADD. He needs a quiet, calm environment, according to HelpGuide, in order to successfully complete a task.
Impulsiveness
Being impulsive is perhaps the most dangerous symptom of ADD, as your child acts without thinking and has no self-control.
During school hours, she will speak before being chosen, often answering questions asked by the teacher before she is supposed to. This tendency continues with conversations between others, as she will often interrupt, appearing rude and thoughtless. In many cases, she will say what is on her mind without using any tact; this can lead to hurt feelings.
When playing with other children, she has a difficult time waiting her turn and will butt in. This often results in problems with other children, as she also has a hard time controlling her emotions. When she becomes angry, she gives no thought to the consequence; she simply expresses it. This may be in the form of words, or may be physical as well.
Her emotions do not end there, however. When frustrated, she may throw a temper tantrum or begin crying. All of these combined lead others around her to believe that she is disrespectful, rude, strange and needy.
