Children can be often found daydreaming, fidgeting, and acting without thinking. If this happens once in a while, there’s nothing to worry about, but hyperactivity, impulsive behavior, and inattention could also be signs of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD can affect a child’s mental growth and ability to get along with their peers. ADHD cannot be cured but with treatment, it can be managed quite effectively. In order to seek treatment, one must be able to identify the signs and symptoms of this condition.

Inability to focus
Difficulty in paying attention to tasks is one of the characteristic signs of ADHD. This is often noticed as a child’s inability to focus on a single activity or complete tasks without getting bored. They may make careless mistakes quite frequently. Children may also have trouble following instructions and may not be able to listen without being distracted. This is typically seen in the case of activities that have a repetitive nature.

Fidgeting
Children with ADHD are often hyperactive and impulsive. They may find it difficult to sit in one place and become perpetually  fidgety. The child may talk excessively or make noises continuously. Instead of playing with one toy at a time, the child may keep running from one toy to another. Even when they are being read a story, the child may fidget and move around constantly. When it comes to following procedures, they may skip a step or two.

Impulsive behavior
Children with this disorder often have trouble with self-control. They interrupt conversations constantly and have trouble censoring themselves. Children with such conditions may ask overly personal and irrelevant questions as well as make tactless observations. Their classroom behavior may be characterized by blurting out answers without thinking and guesswork.

They also do not understand the concept of personal space. Children with ADHD find it hard to follow instructions as compared to their peers. They may also appear to be very moody and emotionally overreact to situations.

Positive signs
Not all signs of ADHD are negative. Children suffering from this condition are often more creative and imaginative than others. Their inability to focus on one task allows them to follow multiple thought lines at the same time. They may also be more open to exploring new ideas. Many children are artistically and intellectually gifted.

While they may be moody at times, they are usually quite lively and have varied interests. If kept motivated, these children can succeed. It is often difficult to distract a child with ADHD from an activity that interests them. This is especially noted in the case of activities that involve a hands-on approach or interactive behavior.

Treatment can make a dramatic difference in the quality of an ADHD patient’s life. They can be taught to focus better and control their emotions. The easier it is diagnosed and treated, the easier it is to manage. Caring for such conditions is not a one person job and it requires the combined effort of parents, teachers, and therapists.