Although individuals with ADHD can struggle at times with navigating situations requiring sustained attention and focus; with proper identification and proper treatment individuals with ADHD can achieve and oftentimes surpass their desired goals.
ADHD predominantly inattentive type: (ADHD-I)
• 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.
• Loses things.
• Is easily distracted.
• Is forgetful in daily activities.
ADHD predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type: (ADHD-HI)
- Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in chair.
- Has difficulty remaining seated.
- Runs about or climbs excessively.
- Difficulty engaging in activities quietly.
- Acts as if driven by a motor.
- Talks excessively.
- Blurts out answers before questions have been completed.
- Difficulty waiting or taking turns.
- Interrupts or intrudes upon others
ADHD combined type: (ADHD-C)
• Individual meets both sets of inattention and hyperactive/impulsive criteria.
Occasionally, we may all have difficulty sitting still, paying attention or controlling impulsive behavior. For some people, the problems are so pervasive and persistent that they interfere with their lives, including home, academic, social and work settings.
What is ADHD?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurobiological condition affecting 5-8 percent of school age children with symptoms persisting into adulthood in as many as 60 percent of cases (i.e. approximately 4% of adults). It is characterized by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
-Although individuals with ADHD can struggle at times with navigating situations requiring
sustained attention and focus; with proper identification and proper treatment individuals with ADHD can achieve and oftentimes surpass their desired goals. Individuals with this disorder can be very successful in life, without identification and proper treatment, ADHD may have serious consequences, including school failure, family stress and disruption, depression, problems with relationships, substance abuse, delinquency, risk for accidental injuries and job failure. Early identification and treatment are extremely important.
Medical science first documented children exhibiting inattentiveness, impulsivity and hyperactivity in 1902. Since that time, the disorder has been given numerous names, including minimal brain dysfunction, hyperkinetic reaction of childhood and attention-deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity. With the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fourth edition (DSM-IV) classification system, the disorder has been renamed attention-de cit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.The current name reflects the importance of the inattention characteristics of the disorder as well as the other characteristics of the disorder, such as hyperactivity and impulsivity.