There is not THE symptom that will tell you if you or your child has ADD/ADHD. It is always necessary to individually identify and determine which of the so-called core symptoms occur and in what intensity. What these are and what exactly is behind them, you can learn here.
Before we get into the core symptoms of ADD, let's take a look at what the 3 types of ADD are. We distinguish between:
1.) Attention deficit syndrome with hyperactivity or predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type (ADHD)
2.) Attention deficit syndrome without hyperactivity, predominantly inattentive type (ADS)
3.) Attention deficit syndrome of the mixed type with approximately equal phases of hyperactivity and dreaminess (ADS)
Even though we find an individual developmental and aptitude profile in each child and - as with all other disorders or illnesses - see very different degrees of manifestation of ADD/ADHD, there are commonalities in the conspicuous features that come to light that make up the diagnosis of "ADD with or without hyperactivity".
Core symptoms of ADD/ADHD are
- Inattention
Affected individuals have marked difficulty concentrating for long periods of time. They are easily distracted, make careless mistakes and do not seem to listen properly.
But be careful: they occupy themselves with something extraordinarily interesting - unfortunately often media like e.g. PC, mobile phone or television - then one can often observe the opposite. Affected people then "hyperfocus". That means they forget everything around them, including time, and lose themselves in the medium. In this way, they lack the possibility to react appropriately to the situation, e.g. to an address.
- Hyperactivity
Sitting still is extremely difficult. The children and adolescents jump up again and again, run, romp, fidget, and can hardly devote themselves to a quiet activity.
But be careful: motor restlessness does not occur in ADHD without hyperactivity. Moreover, it may disappear with the onset of puberty or often gives way to "inner restlessness" or "driven" in ADHD with hyperactivity.
- Impulsivity or lack of impulse control
Affected people have great problems with waiting. They interrupt others, interfere, tend to be quick-tempered or do not act thoughtfully or too quickly.
But be careful: Often the impulsiveness is controlled in foreign surroundings still predominantly with difficulty and expresses itself then at home strengthened. Especially in the inattentive type this shows in the way of working, e.g.: impulsive-volatile working style, lack of controlling and/or not reading the task.
These anomalies already occur before the age of six and do not all have to be equally pronounced.