When people think of ADHD they tend to think of a child with boundless energy, running, jumping, and skipping all over the place. In most cases, ADHD does not look like this. However this stereotype means many people with ADHD are not identified until later in life. ADHD can be diagnosed as one of three types: Inattentive, Hyperactive, or Combined type.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition so its symptoms, and associated behaviours and traits are the result of a person’s brain developing differently during the key stages of development before they were born or as a very young child. (Source; ADHD Aware).
Some indicators of ADHD include:
Short attention span, especially for non-preferred tasks
Hyperactivity, which may be physical, verbal, and/or emotional
Impulsivity, which may manifest as recklessness
Fidgeting or restlessness
Disorganization and difficulty prioritizing tasks
Poor time management and time blindness
Frequent mood swings and emotional dysregulation
Forgetfulness and poor working memory
Trouble multitasking and executive dysfunction
Inability to control anger or frustration
Trouble completing tasks and frequent procrastination
Distractibillity
Difficulty waiting for their turn
Source: ADDitude.
The inattentive type of ADHD is commonly overlooked and missed in girls, this can be because:
they more often have internalized (and less noticeable) symptoms
they’re more likely to use coping strategies that help hide their symptoms
parents and teachers are less likely to refer girls for diagnosis and treatment
The less obvious, but just as significant signs of ADHD may be evident if you child:
reads far ahead in the novel assigned for class but consistently fails to do the homework questions
spends hours working on math homework but often forgets to turn it in
sits quietly in class, doodling in their notebook instead of paying attention and taking notes
has trouble making and keeping friends
constantly seems lost in their own thoughts
is often called a “chatterbox” by teachers and other adults
Source: Healthline
If you want to explore this further, you can do a quick online self-test: https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-symptoms-test-children/
Please be aware this checklist does not mean your child will meet full diagnostic criteria for ADHD. A formal assessment by Michelle Rhyder Psychology Services will explore the symptoms of ADHD in your child across multiple settings and include an observation by a psychologist in a structured setting like school. Please click here to obtain details about my assessment processes.