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CHARACTERISTICS OF
ADHD
The key features of ADHD are inattention, overactivity
and impulsivity. For a diagnosis of ADHD-Combined Type,
inattention and overactivity are both required and must be
present in more than one context. The behavioural difficulties
should be clearly distinguishable from age appropriate
behaviour and should lead to significant impairment in the
child's overall functioning.
Inattention and hyperactivity do not
always have to present together to diagnose
ADHD. Children may present with predominantly
inattentive symptoms or hyperactive symptoms. In these cases,
we identify predominantly inattentive or hyperactive subtypes
of ADHD. In particular, girls diagnosed with inattentive ADHD
often present with concentration difficulties, distractibility
and poor attention. They may also come across as shy
and withdrawn, showing no behavioural symptoms or
hyperactivity. On the contrary, children (particularly
boys) with predominantly hyperactive ADHD can come across
as overactive and "intense", but at the same time they are
able to listen and pay attention to
instructions.
The prevelance
of "pure" inattentive ADHD is relatively low. ADHD is
more commonly associated with a disruption
in behavioural inhibition. That is, children
with ADHD can understand what social rules
are and may have good knowledge what is an appropriate behaviour, but they are unable to
regulate their behaviour or impulses.
ADHD is
frequently first recognised when the child enters the school
system. Therefore, reports from teachers are often
the most important sources of information to diagnose ADHD.
The difficulties associated with inattention,
overactivity and impulsivity should not be accounted for other
childhood emotional disorders , such as depression,
trauma or anxiety/tension.
ADHD is often
co-diagnosed with other behavioural problems, mainly Conduct Disorder, and specific Learning Disabilities .
Subtypes of
ADHD include:
1) Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder - Predominantly Inattentive
Type
2) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder - Predominantly Hyperactive / Impulsive
Type
3) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder - Combined
Type
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