| I believe that many children with Predominantly | | | | Is often forgetful in daily activities. |
| Inattentive ADHD are normally active, that is, they have | | | | *But less than 6 of these Hyperactive/Impulsive |
| six or less of the hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. | | | | symptoms: |
| Many parents (and even physicians) get confused | | | | Fidget and squirm in their seats. |
| about the type of ADHD that their child has because | | | | Talk nonstop. |
| they have a child that is predominantly inattentive but | | | | Dash around, touching or playing with anything and |
| has two or three of the hyperactive or impulsive | | | | everything in sight. |
| symptoms. The assumption is that all children with | | | | Have trouble sitting still during dinner, school, and story |
| Predominantly Inattentive ADHD are dragging | | | | time. |
| themselves about always looking fatigued, sluggish, | | | | Be constantly in motion. |
| drowsy, or slow. If a child is not sluggish the child is | | | | Have difficulty doing quiet tasks or activities. |
| often diagnosed as having Combined type ADHD. I | | | | Be very impatient. |
| believe that this is a mistake because children who are | | | | Blurt out inappropriate comments, show their emotions |
| not diagnosed correctly will not get a treatment plan | | | | without restraint, and act without regard for |
| that is tailored to their specific needs. | | | | consequences. |
| The normally active Predominantly Inattentive ADHD | | | | Have difficulty waiting for things they want or waiting |
| child may look something like this. A nine year boy sits | | | | their turns in games. |
| in a classroom absorbed in something other than the | | | | *Should be diagnosed as having Predominantly |
| classroom work. He is fidgeting with his button and all | | | | Inattentive ADHD. |
| of a sudden leaves his seat to go check out that | | | | They must have had these symptoms for over 6 |
| glimmering wall hanging. The temptation is to label that | | | | months and have been observed with these |
| child a Combined type child with ADHD, because he | | | | symptoms in at least two different settings. There |
| has three of the hyperactive/impulsive symptoms and | | | | must not be another diagnosis which may account for |
| maybe all of the inattentive symptoms. If this boy has | | | | the symptoms but the child. |
| no other hyperactive or impulsive symptoms, he is not | | | | A child with less than 6 of the hyperactive/impulsive |
| a combined type ADHD child or a Hyperactive ADHD | | | | symptoms is what I would call a normally active child. It |
| type child. This is a normally active, Predominantly | | | | is entirely possible for the Primarily Inattentive child to |
| Inattentive ADHD child. | | | | not have the symptoms of Sluggish Cognitive Tempo. |
| *Children that have 6 or more of these Predominantly | | | | They may, in fact, not be at all sluggish, slow, sleepy, or |
| Inattentive symptoms: | | | | lethargic. People with Predominantly Inattentive ADHD |
| Often does not give close attention to details or | | | | do sometimes have a co-existing condition which is |
| makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other | | | | called Sluggish Cognitive Tempo and which does |
| activities. | | | | make the person appear fatigued and drowsy and |
| Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play | | | | cognitively slow but these people do not account for a |
| activities. | | | | majority of people with Predominantly Inattentive |
| Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly. | | | | ADHD. |
| Often does not follow instructions and fails to finish | | | | Normally active children can have Predominantly |
| schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due | | | | Inattentive ADHD. It is important that these |
| to oppositional behavior or failure to understand | | | | Predominantly Inattentive children not be treated |
| instructions). | | | | exactly like Hyperactive/Impulsive or Combined type |
| Often have trouble organizing activities. | | | | children with ADHD because they are different. There |
| Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn't want to do things that | | | | is some very good evidence that the way these kids |
| take a lot of mental effort for a long period (such as | | | | respond to medicines, the classroom interventions that |
| schoolwork or homework). | | | | work for these kids, and the adult outcomes for these |
| Often loses things needed for tasks and activities (e.g. | | | | children is considerably different than it is for children |
| toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools). | | | | with Combined type and Hyperactive/Impulsive type |
| Is often easily distracted. | | | | ADHD. |