What is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? Next Page: What Causes ADHD?
Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are the key behaviors of ADHD. It is normal for all children to be inattentive, hyperactive, or impulsive sometimes, but for children with ADHD, these behaviors are more severe and occur more often. To be diagnosed with the disorder, a child must have symptoms for 6 or more months and to a degree that is greater than other children of the same age.Children who have symptoms of inattention may: • Be easily distracted, miss details, forget things, and frequently switch from one activity to another • Have difficulty focusing on one thing • Become bored with a task after only a few minutes, unless they are doing something enjoyable • Have difficulty focusing attention on organizing and completing a task or learning something new • Have trouble completing or turning in homework assignments, often losing things (e.g., pencils, toys, assignments) needed to complete tasks or activities • Not seem to listen when spoken to • Daydream, become easily con
