When having a baby most parents initially think more about hair and eye color and the number of fingers and toes than dwell on potential problems like ADHD. However with more and more children being diagnosed each year with this neurological condition it is a situation more parents are having to face and cope with. It can be a confusing time wondering if something might be wrong, so this is where a simple ADD/ADHD checklist can be helpful as it allows parents to check for common signs and decide if further evaluation is needed.
Most children display elements of ADHD behavior as they are developing, which is why it can sometimes be hard to distinguish between normal childhood behaviors and ADHD.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disordes
To help parents decide whether their child may have ADHD there are a series of questions that parents can ask themselves about their child's behavior to help initially determination if the child may have this neurological disorder or not.
If the majority of answers to the questions in the checklist are 'yes', it is possible that the child really has ADHD. If however, the majority of answers are 'no' then the child is probably just being a normal kid.
So, lets start:
If your child seems to be inattentive does he...
...fail to listen to all instructions including the minor and major details which normally affect the outcome?
...fail to give all his attention to a single activity and is unable to multi-task?
...find it hard to even focus on one activity at a time?
...fail to listen when being spoken to?
...frequently forget everything that was said to him even on a continuous basis?
...often fail to finish school work or chores, but the behavior is not related to deviance or challenging behaviors?
...end up doing something else rather than the first activity you instructed him to do?
...find it burdensome to be organized or to organize his immediate and personal environment, possessions and school work?
...dislikes mental activities that require prolonged concentration?
...normally looses or misplaces things?
...get frequently distracted by slight disturbances such as someone closing a door or small movements like paper fluttering in the breeze?
...repeatedly forget to do tasks or where he's put his things?
...seem to be overly alert to sounds?
...play unnecessarily noisily?
...have problems with taking turns in games and other activities?
...frequently daydreams the whole day away?
...have a relatively shorter attention span compared to other children his age?
...poorly listens to practically everything?
If your child seems to be impulsive, does he...
...answer questions before you've even had a chance to finish it?
...normally interrupts others, either in games or conversation?
...have problems in waiting?
...say things without first considering the impact of the words?
...tolerate frustrations poorly?
...have the tendency for inappropriate actions or conversations?
...tell stories or fibs due to uncontrolled impulses?
...find it difficult to follow specific instructions and follow his own?
If your child seems to be hyperactive, does he...
...talk excessively?
...stand from his seat when he is required to remain seated? Or does he run when instructed to stay in his place?
...fidget with his hands?
...manage to make all activities as noisy as he can?
...climb, run and squirm when is not appropriate to do so?
...always appear to have more energy than other children?
...always appear restless and behaviors are unmanageable?
...exhibit behavioral and learning difficulties?
Normally children are diagnosed with ADHD before they reach 7 years old. This is because they have started school by then and being in a group of similar aged children can highlight extremes in behavior not only to the teachers, but also the parents.
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This ADD/ADHD checklist was designed to help parents who have concerns over their child's behavior assess whether further evaluation is required. If you answered mainly 'yes' to the questions then it would be worth consulting your child's school to discover whether their behavior in school has raised any concerns and also to speak to your doctor for further tests.
A Simple ADD/ADHD Checklist for Parents
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