ADHD Symptom Reference for Teens & Parents

By examining Attention Deficit Disorder Symptoms that your teen may be experiencing, it becomes easier to identify if a treatment plan may be necessary.

ADD Symptoms and/or ADHD symptoms may include:

• fidgeting with hands or feet
• difficulty remaining seated
• being easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
• difficulty awaiting turn in games or group activities
• blurting out answers before questions are completed or before they are called to answer
• difficulty in following instructions
• difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
• shifting from one incomplete task to another
• talking excessively
• interrupting or intruding on others
• not listening to what is being said
• forgetting things necessary for tasks or activities
• engaging in physically dangerous activities without considering possible consequences

The symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD are further broken into three specific categories, each with a specific clinical presentation that can better describe behavior. The symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD categories are Inattentive Type (classic Attention Deficit Disorder), Hyperactive/Impulsive Type (classic Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) and Combined Type (a combination of inattentive and hyperactive).

Inattention symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder:

• fails to give close attention to details
• makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities
• has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or activities
• becomes easily distracted by irrelevant sights, sounds and extraneous stimuli
• does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
• does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties
• has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
• avoids tasks, such as schoolwork or homework, which require sustained mental effort
• loses things necessary for tasks or activities, like school assignments, pencils, books, or tools
• is forgetful in daily activities
• rarely follows instructions carefully and completely

Teens with symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder who are inattentive display difficulty keeping their mind on any one thing. They may get bored easily and move from one task to the next, without any completion. Organizing and completing a task proves troublesome, though they may give undivided and effortless attention to activities and topics they enjoy. People with Attention Deficit Disorder often find that focusing deliberate, conscious attention to learning something new is extremely difficult.

Hyperactivity/Impulsive symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder:

• fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
• runs about excessively in situations in where it is inappropriate
• has difficulty acting quietly in leisure activities
• is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor"
• talks excessively
• blurts out answers before hearing the entire question
• interrupts or intrudes on others
• feels and acts restless