Characteristics of a child with ADHD
There are 3 main characteristics of a student with A.D.H.D.
1) Inattention
difficulty organizing tasks
difficulty staying on task & maintaining effort
difficulty remembering daily activities
easily distracted
misplacing things
difficulty following instructions and completing school work
2) Hyperactivity
difficulty remaining seated
difficulty listening to others
easily distracted while doing school work
minor motor restlessness such as fidgeting of hands
3) Impulsiveness
difficulty taking turns
need for high stimulus activity
speaks or acts without considering the consequence
A couple of other characteristics include:
4) Difficulty with rewards
problems working toward a long-term goal
want brief, repeated payoffs rather than a single, delayed reward
do not respond to incentives as well as others their age
punishment has limited effect, misbehavior usually continues
once reward system is removed, child usually regresses
5) Difficulty with social skills
many misread social cues, which affects the development of healthy interpersonal skills
leads to frustration and inappropriate/withdrawn behavior
Children with A.D.H.D. may be:
Inattentive, but not hyperactive or impulsive
Hyperactive and impulsive, but able to pay attention
Inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive (the most common form)
Positive Characteristics
Creativity
may be amazingly creative and imaginative
Flexibility
they don’t become set on one alternative
more open to different ideas
Enthusiasm/spontaneity
interested in a lot of different things
lively personalities
Energy/drive
when motivated, they work/play hard and strive to succeed
may be difficult to distract them from a task that interest them
Example
Which one of these children may have A.D.H.D?
- The hyperactive boy who talks nonstop and can’t sit still.
- The quiet dreamer who sits at her desk and stares off into space.
- Both A and B.
Answer: C