While some behaviors associated with ADHD are normal, someone with ADHD will have trouble controlling these behaviors and will show them much more frequently and for longer than 6 months.
Signs of inattention include:
- Becoming easily distracted, and jumping from activity to activity
- Becoming bored with a task quickly
- Difficulty focusing attention and completing tasks, activities or play; or sustaining attention to conversations, reading, lectures
- Easily distracted (by unrelated thoughts or stimuli)
- Trouble completing or turning in homework assignments
- Lack of follow through on instructions, chores, or duties in the workplace
- Starting tasks but quickly losing focus and getting easily sidetracked
- Losing things such as school supplies or toys, books, pencils, tools, wallets, keys, paperwork, eyeglasses, cell phones
- Not listening or paying attention when spoken to
- Daydreaming or wandering with lack of motivation
- Difficulty processing information quickly
- Struggling to follow directions
- Difficulty planning, organizing and following through (executive functioning)
- Overlooking or missing details, making careless mistakes – schoolwork, work, other activities
- Difficulty concentrating, keeping materials and belongings in order, maintaining an organized desk/workplace
- Poor time management and failing to meet deadlines
- Avoid or dislike tasks that require sustained mental effort – schoolwork, homework; teens and older adults – preparing reports, completing forms, reviewing lengthy papers
- Forgetful in daily activities, such as chores, errands, returning calls, and keeping appointments
Signs of hyperactivity include:
- Fidgeting, squirming, having trouble sitting still
- Leaving seats when staying seated is expected – classroom, lectures, presentations, office
- Non-stop talking
- Touching or playing with everything
- Difficulty doing quiet tasks or activities
- Running, climbing or talking loudly in inappropriate situations
- Teens and adults frequent feeling of restlessness
- Unable to play or engage in activities quietly
- Constantly “on the go,” in motion, act as if “driven by a motor”
Signs of impulsivity include:
- Impatience
- Acting without regard for consequences
- Blurting things out – answering before a question has been completed, finishing other people’s sentences, speaking without waiting for a turn in conversations
- Difficulty taking turns, waiting or sharing.
- Interrupting or intruding on others – conversations, games, activities, etc.