Symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM IV), the handbook used by those in psychiatric care as a guide for diagnosis, describes three primary symptoms of ADD: inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. To be diagnosed as ADD, the patient needs to exhibit at least six of the symptoms for inattention OR at least six of the symptoms of the combined hyperactivity-impulsivity list. So, with much warning about the danger of self diagnosis and without any further ado, here is THE LIST
SYMPTOMS OF INATTENTION
a. often ignores details; makes careless mistakes
b. often has trouble sustaining attention in work or play
c. often does not seem to listen when directly addressed
d. often does not follow through on instructions; fails to finish
e. often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
f. often avoids activities that require a sustained mental effort
g. often loses things he needs
h. often gets distracted by extraneous noise
i. is often forgetful in daily activities
b. often has trouble sustaining attention in work or play
c. often does not seem to listen when directly addressed
d. often does not follow through on instructions; fails to finish
e. often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
f. often avoids activities that require a sustained mental effort
g. often loses things he needs
h. often gets distracted by extraneous noise
i. is often forgetful in daily activities
SYMPTOMS OF HYPERACTIVITY-IMPULSIVITY
Hyperactivity
a. often fidgets or squirms
b. often has to get up from seat
c. often runs or climbs when he shouldn’t
(in adults, feelings of physical restlessness)
d. often has difficulty with quiet leisure activities
e. often “on the go”, as if driven by a motor
f. often talks excessively
b. often has to get up from seat
c. often runs or climbs when he shouldn’t
(in adults, feelings of physical restlessness)
d. often has difficulty with quiet leisure activities
e. often “on the go”, as if driven by a motor
f. often talks excessively
Impulsivity
g. often blurts out answers before questions have been completed
h. often has difficulty waiting his turn
i. often interrupts or intrudes on others
h. often has difficulty waiting his turn
i. often interrupts or intrudes on others
Of course, this list is very generalized. In fact, everyone probably experiences these feelings at one time or another. In order to be diagnosed, these symptoms must meet other important criteria as well:
A. symptoms must be present in two or more settings (such as work and home)
B. the individual must show “clinically significant impairment” at work or school or with other people
C. the individual must not suffer from another mental disorder that could explain the symptoms
B. the individual must show “clinically significant impairment” at work or school or with other people
C. the individual must not suffer from another mental disorder that could explain the symptoms
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