Warning signs for ADHD
ADHD has a varied symptom list. For some it is difficult to diagnose because those symptoms show themselves in different ways in different people.
THESE ARE THE MOST NOTED DISABILITIES OF ADD/ADHD (This list is not complete but shows many of the warning signs that MOST children and adults show, though they may not show ALL of them).
1. Skipping from one topic to the next quickly and at random making conversation a challenge
2. Inability to screen out distractions and pay attention to the work at hand.
3. When others are talking, tends to "zone out" and quit listening after the first few sentences
4. Difficulty starting tasks and projects; procrastination; lack of streamlined motivation
5. Excessive disorganization OR over-organization to the point where things are disorganized
6. Cannot prioritize tasks
7. Time difficulties
8. Starting a variety of tasks but not finishing any of them before beginning another
(Note: Most tasks eventually get finished, they are just done using the "little now, little then" concept)
9. Easily bored
10. Low tolerance for frustration and stress sometimes with unstable, unpredictable moods
11. Does not recall conversations, what was said, or what was meant by what was said
12. Forgetfulness. (Including homework, schoolwork, etc.)
13. Losing things and misplacing things constantly
14. Inability to delay gratification. Must be praised promptly and disciplined accordingly for these processes to mean anything at all.
15. Jumping to conclusions, acting impulsively without regard to consequences, speaking without thinking.
16. Difficulty sustaining effort over long periods of time (especially at school and work)
Sometimes the ADHD person misunderstands directions because they are not "to the point" or they are too long. This is an extreme part of the learning problems that ADHD children have in school.
THERE ARE ALSO SOME VERY POSITIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE WHO ARE ADHD:
1. Creativity - Known for thinking "outside the box", brainstorming, coming up with new and valuable ways to assist themselves and mankind.
2. Because their way of thinking is flexible they tend to be open-minded, improvisational, and independent thinkers.
3. They more than likely have a great deal of enthusiasm and spontaneity.
4. Quick mind and quick witted. They can think on their feet and quickly absorb information if given to them in the form they most understand.
5. MULTI-TASKERS: ADHD folks tend to be able to work on many things at the same time. The problem they have with attention is not always do to outside distraction but to the many, many things and ideas that are going through their minds constantly and at the same time!
6. Hyper-focus: If a project is extremely interesting to an ADHD person and is being presented in ways they can make use of, they can focus on an issue extremely well. They may even become compulsive about the task. Some call this being "in the zone". When there, ADHD people can lose all concept of time. This single-minded ability to hyper-focus has brought many great accomplishments and discoveries to our world!
If you see what you feel are "warning signs" of ADHD it is wisest to see a physician first. From there you will find help with questionnaires for teachers, family, employers, etc. that can help pinpoint the severity of symptoms and how to work with them. Many people show a lot of these symptoms. Some show only a few. Some show them in different ways. There are no set rules for this disorder. It can be different in each person and manifest itself in various ways.
One of the best things to aid one in seeing young children and questioning the possibility of ADHD is those notes you get home from kindergarden that say, "Johnny seems to have trouble staying "on task". He needs to pay attention more.
Don't be afraid of ADHD. Embrace it, work with it, and teach others to work with it. It can be a remarkable thing to see when the ADHD person "wakes up" and shows just what he is capable of!