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The Symptoms of ADHD

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed disorder of childhood, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. It affects up to 5 percent of children in school. Boys are three times as likely as girls to develop it.

Children with ADHD have difficulty regulating their level of activity and staying focused on a task. This difficulty occurs not only in school, but also at home or with friends. ADHD often continues into adulthood, according to NIMH.

NIMH lists the following symptoms for ADHD. Remember that all children act this way once in a while. A child with ADHD acts this way most of the time.

Signs of inattention:

• Child is easily distracted by sights and sounds around him.
• Child does not pay attention and makes careless mistakes.
• Child loses or forgets toys, books and tools needed for a task.

Signs of hyperactivity:

• Child is restless and fidgets or squirms.
• Child runs, climbs or leaves his seat in a situation in which he should be sitting quietly.
• Child blurts out answers before the question is finished.
• Child has difficulty waiting in line or for his turn.

These behaviors must appear before age 7 and continue for at least six months, NIMH says. They must interfere with at least two areas of the child's life -- at school, home or with friends.