Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) | Symptoms & Causes
What are the symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder?
Symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) fall into three categories:
Inattention
- short attention span for their age
- frequent careless mistakes
- trouble listening or following instructions
- trouble organizing activities
- losing or forgetting things repeatedly and often
- easily distracted
- forgetfulness and poor study skills for their age
Impulsivity
- habit of interrupting others
- difficulty waiting for their turn in school and with friends
- tendency to blurt out answers instead of waiting to be called on
- inclination to risky behaviors, often without thinking first
Hyperactivity
- constant need to run or climb, often with no apparent destination
- fidgeting or squirming when forced to sit still
- excessive talking
- difficulty engaging in quiet activities
- shifting from one task to another without finishing any of them
What causes ADHD?
While researchers have not been able to identify a single cause, many studies indicate that ADHD runs in families. Other possible risk factors under investigation include:
- traumatic brain injury
- alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy
- low birth weight
- premature delivery
- exposure to lead at an early age
Despite what some people think, there is no evidence that eating too much sugar, consuming certain food additives, watching too much TV or growing up in a chaotic home environment cause ADHD.