ADHD in Kids: Detailed Overview of a Disorder

Today, it's common to come across hyperactive children who are constantly moving and cannot stay focused on one thing for a long time. Sometimes, this behavior can be treated as a result of poor parenting or the child's desire to draw attention to themselves. However, parents who seek help from a child psychologist can often hear about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

Attention deficit disorder in children is defined as a medical condition. There are structural and functional changes in the brain related to ADHD. One of the main signs of childhood ADHD is the inability to concentrate on one task for a long period. What else do you need to know about this syndrome? Read on about it in our article.

How Is ADHD Characterized in Kids?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with functional changes in the brain, i.e. you shouldn’t confuse this syndrome with severe mental disorders and treat a child as mentally ill. Due to hyperactivity, kids with ADHD are too active, impulsive, and inattentive. Before adolescence, hyperactivity can disappear, but inattention and impulsiveness often tend to progress. 

Boys are much more likely to suffer from hyperactivity than girls. Most of all, it exhibits at the age of 3-12. According to various statistics, attention deficit disorder affects from 3 to 11% of children (primary school age). 

Normal Kid Behavior vs. ADHD Symptoms

Sometimes, it can be tough to notice the difference between typical childhood behavior and ADHD in children, since lots of kids can demonstrate distractibility and impulsivity. However, symptoms of ADHD can significantly and continually impact daily functioning, while typical children behavior varies with age, environment, and developmental phase.

The following table outlines common child behavioral patterns and behaviors of kids with ADHD:

Children show some of these behaviors at times. However, kids with ADHD symptoms exhibit the mentioned symptoms consistently and in different circumstances, impacting school, home, and social life. 

Popular Myths and Proven Facts About ADHD

Despite a lot of research,  ADHD in kids is still shrouded in myths that continue to be believed. Let's debunk the most popular ones.

• Myth 1: You can diagnose ADHD on your own by taking simple psychological tests.

Fact: If you suspect that your child has ADHD, you should see a child's healthcare provider. There are no reliable tests for self-diagnosis or specific research methods for ADHD! A doctor can make a diagnosis by evaluating the symptoms of ADHD and based on the DSM-V criteria, taking into account the results of the Vanderbilt Parent and Educator Questionnaire.

• Myth 2. ADHD is treated with medication.

Fact: In some cases, ADHD can be corrected by medication. In the U.S. and Western countries, doctors use psychostimulant drugs that have lots of side effects and cause addiction. In post-Soviet countries, nootropics are widely used, but they still haven’t proven their effectiveness. Nevertheless, in 70% of cases, psychostimulants significantly reduce the severity or eliminate ADHD manifestations. Thus, there is no magic pill to treat ADHD.

• Myth 3. Children's ADHD is a result of bad parenting.

Fact: Having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a child doesn’t mean that ‘parents aren’t good at parenting’! The causes of ADHD in children are diverse, with heredity playing a major role. It should be remembered that the right parental approach to children is always important, and can even become a therapeutic measure to some extent.

• Myth 4. All children with ADHD are hyperactive.

Fact: This statement is incorrect. There are 3 subtypes of ADHD: attention deficit, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and mixed type, characterized by both attention deficit and hyperactivity. However, there are cases when only attention deficit kicks in.

• Myth 5. ADHD isn’t bound to genetics.

Fact: More than 77% of ADHD cases are inherited. It has already been proven that certain genes (SLC6A3, DRD4, MAOA, LPHN3, DIRAS2, etc.) regulate the metabolism of neurotransmitters in the brain, which is the key to the development of ADHD.

If you study ADHD in more detail, you can also help debunk the myths that others have.

What Are the ADHD Child’s Symptoms?

The main symptoms of ADHD in kids are inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. 

• Inattention manifests when a child does tasks requiring sustained concentration, vigilance, and prolonged and purposeful perception of voice and text information. It applies not only to the learning process. For example, a child can’t master many types of games, from board games to computer ones. 

Attention deficit doesn't mean a lack of full attention. Rather, kids with ADHD have difficulty controlling their minds to do tasks. There’s the other side of attention deficit disorder — hyperfocus, which is a feeling of deep and open concentration on a particular object or thought. 

• Impulsivity includes unusual performance of tasks and hasty actions on their initiative without looking at the consequences. When impulsive children are asked to do something, they hurry to complete a task without even listening to the end, without specifying the details. Most often, the result will be careless, inaccurate, and poor quality. Impulsive actions are often unpredictable and can be risky both for the child and for others’ properties and mental health.
• Hyperactivity in ADHD can be expressed in high motor activity that often can be meaningless. The child has very little control over such activity even in situations requiring calm behavior: at school, in public, at doctor's appointments, etc. Other children may quickly tire of the contact and react negatively to the hyperactive child.

Not all of these child's symptoms can be manifested at the same time. Apart from the main signs, the following symptoms in kids can be added:

• Impatience. The child strives to get what they want ASAP, despite the circumstances, and interrupts adults, regardless of the norms of decency.
• Obsessiveness and stubbornness. The child constantly demands attention and communication, seeking what they want, even if they’re denied. The child doesn’t listen to explanations and doesn’t pay attention to calls for discipline.
• Inability to admit defeat in games and aggressive behavior when losing.
• Frequent mood swings. Inappropriate cheerfulness can quickly change to crying and crankiness and may cause trouble falling asleep.

School problems with ADHD in kids arise due to inattention and lack of ability to reason and deliver their thoughts consistently. Violations of behavioral rules and low adaptation to social demands are characteristic. Children with predominantly inattentive ADHD respond better to hands-on learning and do poorly in passive learning situations where independent work and task completion are required. 

Symptoms of ADHD at Different Ages: Brief Overview

ADHD symptoms differ at various stages of life. Here’s a general breakdown of how symptoms may manifest across age groups. 

Preschool (Ages 3-5)

• Hyperactivity.
• Impulsivity.
• Inattention.
• Hardship for emotional regulation and self-control.

Elementary School (Ages 6-12)

• Inattention.
• Hyperactivity and impulsivity.
• Struggle with social skills.
• Emotional regulation.

Teenagers (Ages 13-17)

• Academic and organizational challenges.
• Impulsivity and risk-taking (e.g., driving recklessly, experimenting with substances).
• Social difficulties.
• Emotional regulation.

Young Adults (18+)

• Difficulty with focus and organization.
• Impulsivity.
• Memory and attention issues.
• Relationship challenges.

The added symptoms in kids can vary in intensity, often influenced by individual coping strategies, support systems, and sometimes, treatment plans.

ADHD in Girls

‘Boys with ADHD typically exhibit multiple behavioral problems, the severity of which is often measured by how much the disorder affects those around them,’ Patricia Quinn explains, a physician and co-author of Understanding Girls with ADHD. ‘In the case of girls, the problem lies in how the disorder affects them first and foremost.’ 

Instead of pranking, girls with ADHD are more likely to be brooding and daydreaming. ‘Your daughter may do what she's told, but have difficulty with tasks that require attention, and may not follow through,’ Dr. Manos explains. 

‘Some girls go on to do well in school, especially if they are naturally smart and hardworking,’ adds Dr. Quinn. ‘They try to compensate for these difficulties in some way. Parents may not see the problem — but the girls themselves realize that they have to put in a lot more effort, that they're not like other kids.’ 

If your daughter has a harder time with homework than other kids, if she stays up late with homework, if she's only able to study in certain environments if she dreads going to school —  these could be the red flags of ADHD. 

While ADHD symptoms are less noticeable in girls than in boys, it doesn't mean girls are less affected by it. On the contrary, they are the ones who are more likely to develop anxiety and depression, as well as low self-esteem. Not every girl without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder will excel in everything, but there is a difference: ‘If a girl without ADHD plays volleyball worse than others, she will not write it off as something wrong with her,’ says Dr. Manos. ‘A girl with ADHD, on the other hand, will direct the criticism at herself.’

In some cases, girls with ADHD may try to do several tasks at the same time. They need different stimuli to focus. For example, doing homework while moving around the room and listening to music.

As a result, self-harm, eating disorders, and even suicide attempts are more common in girls with ADHD. So getting a diagnosis is very important, even if a child can keep up with others.

The Positive Side of ADHD: Does It Exist?

Children with ADHD often have creativity that kids without a disorder don’t have. Positive traits and skills they may have:

• a high level of communication skills;
• out-of-the-box thinking and creativity;
• energy and activity;
• well-developed imagination and intelligence;
• determination;
• empathy and sensitivity.

Sometimes the reverse side of attention deficit is hyperfocus —  maximum immersion in any activity when time and the surrounding world cease to exist in a person's mind. The state of hyperfocus in adults allows them to achieve high labor productivity.

How to Treat ADHD?

Effective treatment of ADHD in children involves a comprehensive approach. It includes a treatment plan, behavioral therapy (which involves working on the child's social skills and behavior management), and parent training. The child's doctor also helps parents understand how to raise a child with ADHD. Sometimes medication can be prescribed to treat ADHD in kids.

The drugs are effective in alleviating the symptoms of ADHD and allow patients to participate in activities that were previously restricted for them due to attention deficit and excessive impulsivity. These ADHD medications can increase behavioral and learning activity, motivation, and self-esteem.

Parenting Tips for Children with ADHD

Apart from behavioral therapy and treatment with medications, parents should help their children establish a healthy lifestyle. Parents should keep a list of simple rules to support their kids with ADHD:

• stick to bedtimes and wake-up times;
• limiting daily screen time (watching TV, playing on the PC, smartphone and tablet);
• organization of regular physical activity (morning exercises or jogging, attending sports clubs).

Pay attention to your child's nutrition. Exclude foods that increase physical activity (sweets, baking, coffee), and allergens (milk, eggs, honey). It is recommended to eat more fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grain flour products, and lean meats.

If your kid has poor concentration and hyperactivity, don’t give them several tasks at once. A new task should be given only after the previous one has been completed. Requests and instructions should be direct and laconic, otherwise, the child won’t hear them. Below you can find some techniques for managing childhood ADHD at home:

• creating and following a daily routine;
• using diaries to record tasks and upcoming important events;
• organizing everyday objects with clear storage places for clothes, toys, textbooks, and notebooks;
• limiting time for play, homework, and other tasks;
• changing types of activities;
• having a break while doing a task;
• using praise and rewards for following rules.

Parents should focus on the child's achievements rather than on the bad child's behavior. Punishment for uncompleted work will lead to increasing protest, aggression, rules and instructions rejection.

School Tips for Children with ADHD

Child’s ADHD should be treated not only at home but also ADHD kids should get support and understanding from teachers. Let’s see what tips and strategies teachers can use to find common ground with children’s ADHD. 

• A child needs to move all the time. If you make a hyperactive child sit still, it will be harder for them to think. Therefore, teachers should allow children to move around during class. If a child gets tired, give a physical task: hand out notebooks or water the flowers.
• Many children with ADHD may not do their homework neatly. There are a lot of corrections and blunders in the notebooks. Therefore, teachers should look at the content, not its design, and remember that dropping grades for poorly designed work will reduce motivation to learn.
• Hyperactive children are afraid of large volumes. If you give a child to do 20 sums at once, they’ll be afraid. However, if you give the same 20 sums on separate cards (5 times with 4 sums each, a kid will do everything much faster).
• The child may forget something. For example, how to perform a task or the final goal of the work (ADHD often provokes poor memory). As a result, children get lower grades again, and motivation drops. A teacher has to focus a child on all task points and ask what he should do.
• The child is often distracted. It’s better to let kids with ADHD sit closer to the teacher to make it easier to concentrate. If the child is distracted, touch their hands gently to help them focus again.
• Hyperactive children have poor time management. It has nothing to do with the child's intellectual development. A child doesn’t notice that it's already later than they thought. As a result, a child may not have time to finish something and get late. In such cases, teachers should either constantly remind them of the time, or teach them to set a timer.
• Most children with ADHD are impulsive. It is difficult for a child to keep from shouting out the answer if they know it. In class, teachers can provide special tablets on which children can write the answer to the teacher's question so that they don't have to be patient if another student answers.
• Get a backup set of textbooks, notebooks, and stationery. Children with ADHD may forget school supplies at home. If you can provide a child with an extra set, they can keep up with the learning process
• A hyperactive child can be taught everything. Even to do things that are difficult for them (for physiological reasons). But to do this, you should create external motivation for them.

A reward system, which teachers and parents can use together, can help. Let's say you want to introduce several rules, which the child must stick to at school. If a child follows the rules, they get points from the teacher in a special diary. The rules should be short and specific.

Why It’s Important to Treat ADHD on Time and Use an Individual Approach

ADHD is a chronic condition that cannot be completely treated. However, it’s possible to alleviate ADHD symptoms in kids and improve the quality of life if a specialist can diagnose ADHD on time and a personalized approach is applied for treatment. 

The symptoms can vary and each child reacts differently to the same treatments, so each case should be carefully studied and treatment should be tailored to the child.

If you ignore treatment, problems with concentration and hyperactivity can lead to serious deviations in the child’s development, and negatively affect learning and relationships with peers. Possible complications of ADHD:

• low self-esteem;
• academic failure;
• depression;
• insomnia;
• dyslexia (reading disorder);
• antisocial behavior and aggression;
• Tourette's syndrome (multiple motor and vocal tics).

In adulthood, ADHD patients are prone to bad habits (alcohol or/and drug abuse). Complications of ADHD in adults and teenagers are eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, pathological overeating).

Final Thoughts on ADHD Symptoms in Children

ADHD in children is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Symptoms can differ between boys and girls and across ages, but early diagnosis and individualized approaches can improve learning, social skills, and overall quality of life, minimizing long-term effects.

References

1. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4784-attention-deficithyperactivity-disorder-adhd
2. Frontiers in Psychology. (2022). Exploring attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Insights and current research. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.751041/full
3. National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2016). ADHD and its implications for child development. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4768532/

4. Understood. (n.d.). Common myths about ADHD. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/common-myths-about-adhd