ADD/ADHD and How to Recognise It 

ADHD/ADD is a medical diagnosis that is applied to children and adults, who are experiencing behavioural and cognitive difficulties in important aspects of their lives (e.g. school, work, family and personal relationships). Diagnosis can only be made following a period of observation of the child, gathering their history. A full medical and psychological evaluation must also be undertaken. 

There are strict diagnostic criteria for ADD/ADHD which draws the line of demarcation between ADD/ADHD and other inappropriate behaviours. Without proper identification and treatment, ADD/ADHD can have serious and long-lasting consequences for the child.

While it is estimated that approximately 3% to 5% of children present with this condition, it remains poorly recognised and under-diagnosed.

4 to 5% of people in Ireland 
Boys tend to demonstrate all three core symptoms 
Girls often lack the hyperactivity factor (ADD) consequently slipping through the net 
In Ireland, 3 to 4 times more boys are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD than girls 
ADD/ADHD persists into adolescence and adulthood in 30-50% of children. 

What are the Core Behaviours of a Child with ADD/ADHD?

ADHD/ADD is usually described as being made up of three core behaviours: 

• Predominantly inattentive type - problems of attention, distractibility, short-term memory and learning. 
• Predominantly hyperactive type - impulsive, poorly self-monitored behaviour. 
• Combined type - most children with ADHD/ADD fall into this category.

Symtoms: Inattentiveness

Easily distracted 
Flit from task to task 
Slow to complete school work and forget instructions. 
Inattentiveness can be confusing because of its selectivity. The child who is extremely inattentive while doing schoolwork may be fully focused when playing video games, carrying out practical procedures or when being tested by a psychologist. 
Inattention to verbal instructions and a short-term memory are also associational problems.

Symtoms: Impulsiveness 

“shooting from the hip” both verbally and physically. 
They talk over the top of others 
Tend to be accident-prone and have very short fuses 
Answer questions in class even before the question has been completed. 
Act without malice but also without forethought, which leads to problems in the playground 
Do not learn from the consequences of their behaviour 
The volatility of these children makes them prone to escalate out of control when their behaviour is handled insensitively. 
Often teachers and parents cannot understand why someone so intelligent can act so inappropriately. 

Symtoms: Hyperactivity

In primary school they are 
Restless, fidgety, have difficulty remaining seated and find it hard to stop talking. 
If they manage to stay seated, they fiddle with anything they can touch, tapping their fingers / feet, and looking around at everyone. 
In the playground, they act like they have been released from captivity. 
When they return to the classroom, they find it even more difficult to settle back in. 

In secondary school 
Some retain the high level of physical activity 
Many will be able to remain seated for the 40-minute class and generally their hyperactivity seems to have lessened. 
They are generally still noisier and more talkative than their peers. The fiddling, scribbling and touching everything can also remain at quite a high level. 
The combination of hyperactivity with impulsiveness makes children with ADD/ADHD very difficult to manage.

Associated Behaviours

• Low self esteem 
• Stubbornness
• Persistence 
• Social clumsiness / poor social skills / relationship problems
• Emotional over-arousal
• Hypersensitivity 
• Variability 
• Poor Co-ordination
• Disorganisation 
• Poor time management
• Specific learning difficulties
•  Motivation difficulties

Positive attributes……… 

 High level of environmental awareness 
Responds well when highly motivated 
Flexible, ready to change strategy quickly 
Tireless when motivated 
Goal-orientated 
Visual concrete thinker 
Independent 
Imaginative/bored by mundane tasks 
Willing to take risks 
Single minded in pursuit goals

Negative attributes……… 

 Distractible 
Short attention span with periods of intense focus 
Poor planners, disorganized 
Distorted sense of time 
Impatient 
Difficulty converting words into concepts 
Have difficulty following instructions 
Daydreamers 
Act without considering consequences 
Lacking in social skills