ADHD Signs and Facts

ADHD symptoms usually arise in early childhood. Current diagnostic criteria indicate that the disorder is marked by behaviors that are long-lasting and evident for at least six months, with onset before age seven. Because everyone shows signs of these behaviors at one time or another, the guidelines for determining whether a person has ADHD are very specific.  In children, the symptoms must be more frequent or severe than in other children of the same age. In adults, the symptoms must be present since childhood and affect the person’s ability to function in daily life. For both children and adults, these symptoms must create significant difficulty in at least two areas of life, such as home, social settings, school, or work. 

There are three primary subtypes of ADHD, each associated with different symptoms.

ADHD—Primarily Inattentive Type:

• Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes
• Has difficulty sustaining attention
• Does not appear to listen
• Struggles to follow through on instructions
• Has difficulty with organization
• Avoids or dislikes tasks requiring sustained mental effort
• Is easily distracted
• Is forgetful in daily activities

ADHD—Primarily Hyperactive/Impulsive Type:

• Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in chair
• Has difficulty remaining seated
• Runs around or climbs excessively
• Has difficulty engaging in activities quietly
• Acts as if driven by a motor
• Talks excessively
• Blurts out answers before questions have been completed
• Has difficulty waiting or taking turns
• Interrupts or intrudes upon others

ADHD—Combined Type:

• Meets both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive criteria