| The signs of Attention Deficit Disorder may | | | | child may also exhibit impulsive behavior |
| or may not be incredibly apparent. Because of | | | | that does not show signs of hyperactivity, |
| the intricacies of this disorder and the | | | | such as blurting out answers in a classroom |
| variations from child to child, diagnosis may | | | | setting. |
| prove to be a difficult process. | | | | |
| | | | Children with Attention Deficit Disorder seem |
| The first step is understanding that | | | | to be wired in to everything that is |
| hyperactivity is not synonymous with | | | | happening around them. In some ways, they are |
| Attention Deficit Disorder. While a child may | | | | hypersensitive to their surroundings and can |
| exhibit an increased level of activity with | | | | not concentrate with typical distractions. |
| this disorder, it is not an inherent factor | | | | While they do not have difficulties learning, |
| of ADD. | | | | they may very likely rank poor academically |
| | | | because of their inability to stay on task |
| On the other hand, there are certain | | | | and complete assignments. |
| characteristics that are prevalent in a child | | | | |
| with ADD, such as inattentiveness, | | | | Boys and girls tend to behave differently |
| impulsiveness, and being easily distracted. | | | | with ADD. While both genders will typically |
| | | | be hypersensitive to sight, sounds, and |
| Inattentiveness and distractibility go hand | | | | physical stimuli, boys tend to be more |
| and hand. A child with ADD may have a | | | | hyperactive and girls more inattentive. They |
| difficult time staying on task, completing | | | | also both seem to become unmanageable and |
| activities, and paying attention to details. | | | | unruly with overstimulation, sometimes to the |
| While these may seem common traits among | | | | point of aggressiveness and abusiveness. This |
| children, an ADD child will exhibit extreme | | | | is of particular importance to parents of a |
| behavior more so than children of the same | | | | child with ADD, as these prove to be more |
| age. They must also exhibit these behaviors | | | | difficult times of control. |
| for extended periods of time, more than six | | | | |
| months, and the behavior must significantly | | | | It is important, however, to understand that |
| hinder a child's ability to function in day | | | | all children are different. No two children |
| to day activities. | | | | will behave exactly the same in any given |
| | | | circumstance. Just because your child behaves |
| Impulsiveness also is a common trait among | | | | more aggressively than other children, does |
| children with ADD. Often paired with | | | | not necessarily mean they have ADD. Diagnosis |
| hyperactivity, a child may suddenly bolt from | | | | from a physician or specialist is necessary |
| their chair to observe what is taking place | | | | to determine if Attention Deficit Disorder is |
| across the classroom. On the other hand, a | | | | present. |