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child seem uncomfortable with small talk, or does your child really enjoy spending time alone? Small talk can be so tough for an ADHD person to tolerate. To me, small talk is just an old pair of sneakers stuffed into an already over-filled closet. The ADHD girl already has lots of "stuff" going on in her brain; small talk is useless and further crowds the closet.

The small talkers were the people with "quiet" brains, I thought. There are just so many interesting things we could address; why waste time on needless chatter? This thought process, though sounding a little aloof, doesn't exhibit itself that way. Remember, the ADHD child is more than likely insecure due to feeling different. It can lead to social awkwardness or shyness.

Spending time alone allows the ADHD person (children and adults alike!) to escape incidences of small talk and to think about the thoughts flowing around in her brain. Solitude provides the freedom to contemplate - undisturbed.

4) Does your child like puzzles, building or taking things apart, or video games? These are all related to a very important concept. It is one of the key things in the life of an ADHD person that can be extremely helpful as well as extremely destructive. It's called feedback. I hear the terms positive reinforcement or instant gratification thrown around, too. Those are different, but related, concepts. I like to call it instant feedback.

Instant feedback mimics serotonin in the brain. When progress on a project is instant and visible, there is the same type of satisfaction or serenity you get from serotonin. Not long before I was diagnosed, I came home one day and noticed the shrubs at the front of my house were uneven from the spring growth. I grabbed a pair of manual hedge-trimmers and cut a few sprigs off of the nearest shrub. Three hours later, the 3-inch heel of my sandal broke. I had cut all 15 shrubs around my house, leaving the car running the entire time. Needless to say, I have neighbors that think I like to dress up before doing yard work!

5) Does your child like roller coasters, loud music, or intense competition? I have a theory that the hyperactive aspect of ADHD is totally in the brain. Intense or extreme sports (or any hyperactive behavior) not only give the instant feedback I spoke of before, but act as a "sponge", diverting the energy in the brain to an outward expression. At that point, it becomes easier to remain on a particular thought. I have found this to be true my entire life. I am at my most focused levels when I'm physically exhausted.

These are just a few clues that may signal ADHD in your daughter. Of course, this list is by no means exhaustive. Further, anyone can exhibit these behaviors at different points. The important thing to remember with ADHD is that those behaviors will be extreme and persistent.

Learn more about this author, Sara Stone.
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