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