Common Symptoms of ADHD In Children, Teens, And AdultsCommon Symptoms Of ADHD In Children, Teens, And Adults

The symptoms can be categorized into a few buckets for most patients who struggle with focus disorders like ADHD. Specifically, symptoms of ADHD fall into one of the three very general categories:

1. Focus

2. Hyperactivity

3. Impulse Control

These can look very different in kids with ADHD compared to adults, but the root of the struggles remains the same.

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Symptoms Of ADHD Related To Focus

It’s important to note that it is normal for children to display some inattention, especially throughout the developmental stages, and skills such as perseverance and dedication. However, inattention or inability to focus hinders children’s ability to complete basic tasks. In that case, consider seeking the insights of professionals and having them perform an ADHD spectrum test. Because some inattention is entirely normal in children, the symptoms of ADHD related to focus are among the hardest to identify as a real problem. Children who struggle with ADHD may display the following symptoms in conjunction with the other categories of ADHD behavior:

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• Easily distracted

• Struggles to listen to and follow directions

• Cannot finish tasks

• They do not appear to be listening or paying attention

• Repeatedly makes the same careless mistakes

• Forgets about regular activities

• Struggles to organize and prioritize daily activities and tasks

• Has problems keeping track of things

• Tends to daydream

 

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Symptoms Of ADHD Related To Hyperactivity

The signs of hyperactivity may seem more evident to parents, teachers, and even peers. Children who are showing symptoms of ADHD that are related to hyperactivity often:

• Squirm, fidget, and struggle to sit still

• Don’t stay seated, even when directed to

• Don’t show interest or ability to play quietly

• Are constantly moving and getting into things

• Talk excessively

These symptoms are easily identified because they are often not resolved by direction or reprimands. A child struggling with ADHD cannot sit still or stay seated, which leads us to the final category of symptoms of ADHD: impulse control.

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Symptoms Of ADHD Related To Impulse Control

With ADHD, the child cannot control their impulses to think, speak, and behave. Children with ADHD struggle with impulsivity, resulting in problems waiting for their turn, blurting out comments, and interrupting others. The correlations between this behavior and ADHD can be drawn when repeated attempts to teach your child the alternative seem to fall on deaf ears.

These symptoms can look very different in adults, especially considering the changes in our daily responsibilities as we age. The symptoms of ADHD in teens and adults are more commonly associated with anxiety, low self-esteem, anger and frustration problems, mood swings, depression, relationships, and professional issues.

ADD Versus ADHD

ADD is a type of ADHD in which the symptoms associated with hyperactivity are absent. In the past, children who displayed signs of ADHD without the key behavioral element of hyperactivity were often characterized as shy or introverted. It is important to note that ADD is no longer a diagnosis accepted in medical circles. Instead, the symptoms of ADHD have been divided to more accurately describe the specific version of the focus disorder that patients struggle with. ADHD diagnosis looks like the following:

• ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Presentation (what was previously called ADD)

• ADHD Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation

• ADHD Combined Presentation

The diagnosis will depend on the specific symptoms displayed and directly influence the treatment options that will benefit the patient the most.