ADHD Behavior in Children: Some signs to watch out for

A Quick Guide

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is often diagnosed in childhood. It is characterized by attention and concentration issues, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. ADHD can lead to a lot of issues in a person’s life especially if it goes undiagnosed. Mostly, it is observed that boys tend to have ADHD more than girls and this is because often in boys the symptoms are externalizing such as hyperactivity. Whereas, in girls ADHD behavior is hard to identify because the symptoms are more internalizing like inattention which sometimes is just written off as a personality issue. 

Types of ADHD and their Symptoms in Children

ADHD is divided into 3 types:

Inattentive Type

A child who shows inattentive behavior may often: 

• Avoid or dislike activities that need concentration or mental energy, such as schoolwork
• Be prone to distraction
• Display a lack of attention even when talked to directly
• Experience problems staying engaged in activities or games 
• Face difficulties planning their activities and tasks
• Fail to complete tasks or studies due to difficulty in following directions
• Fail to complete some everyday tasks, such as chores
• Forget items that are required for chores or activities, such as toys, homework, or pencils
• Make casual errors or forget to pay careful attention to details during academics

Hyperactive or Impulsive Type

A child who shows hyperactive or impulsive behavior may often: 

• Experience trouble remaining sat in a classroom or other settings
• Face problems playing or working silently
• Have trouble waiting for their turn
• Interrupt or pry into other people’s games, conversations, or activities
• Respond incoherently, cutting off the other people
• Squirm in the chair, fidget, or tap his or her hands or feet
• Stay active and constantly moving
• Talk excessively
• When it’s not suitable, move around or jump

Combined Type

A child with a combined type of ADHD shows behavior from both types. 

Learn How To Provide Support To Children With ADHD As A Parent?

What causes children with ADHD to act out?

Although tantrums and defiance are frequently a result of ADHD symptoms, they are not signs of ADHD per se. 

Temper tantrums

Children who lack attention or are impulsive may find it extremely difficult to tolerate repetitive, hard, or tedious jobs especially if it involves giving up something enjoyable, like playing a game. Therefore, activities like doing schoolwork, going to bed, getting dressed, and eating meals can turn into areas of conflict. Unfortunately for parents, these children frequently avoid situations by throwing tantrums, fighting, acting defiantly, and engaging in power struggles.

Impulsivity

Impulsivity can result in pushing someone or shrieking “shut up!” in children with ADHD who are overly frustrated. They are less adept than other children their age at controlling strong emotions without acting out. 

Poor emotional regulation

Being able to control your emotions and actions to satisfy the demands of the occasion is known as self-regulation. It entails having the ability to control your intense emotional reactions to distressing stimuli, control your anger when you feel it coming on, cope with a change in expectations, and handle annoyance without losing your cool. But self-regulation issues are very prevalent in children with ADHD.

However, behavioral issues might extend beyond irrational outbursts. When children with ADHD have repeated conflicts with adults, some of them start to exhibit negative behavior patterns. It can also have long-term negative effects on the child. So it is important that you take your child to a mental health professional if you recognize a pattern of ADHD behavior described above.

Learn more about:

The link between ADHD and Learning Disabilities LD.

ADHD And Dyslexia: How Are They Connected?

How ADHD looks in the classroom.

We hope you found this article useful in understanding more about ADHD behavior in children. To learn more about the treatment options for ADHD, check out our other article: ADHD: Treatment & Management.