| Almost ten percent of America's school-age population | | | | bouncing around at a million miles an hour, and their |
| has been diagnosed with ADD. The problem is, of that | | | | feet are itching to follow. Because toddlers have |
| ten percent there are some students who have ADD | | | | notoriously short attention spans this symptom often |
| ADHD and some children who are simply high energy | | | | does not noticeably manifest itself until the child begins |
| children-children for whom excessive activity is a way | | | | school, when their poor grades and inability to keep up |
| of life who do not suffer any of the imbalances that | | | | with their class mark the second of the most obvious |
| characterize ADD. How do parents tell the difference? | | | | signs and symptoms of ADD.o Impulsive behavior. |
| The signs and symptoms of ADD are often difficult to | | | | We've all been in public with our children and had them |
| distinguish, but if you are well informed and working | | | | do something completely thoughtless that has |
| with your pediatrician you can recognize the disorder | | | | embarrassed us, destroyed property and/or hurt |
| and get your child the help they deserve as quickly as | | | | themselves and those around us. That, unfortunately, is |
| possible. | | | | part of the learning process. No matter how "good" |
| Signs and Symptoms of ADD:o Hyperactivity. The first | | | | and "normal" your child may be, you're never going to |
| and most easily recognized symptom of ADD/ADHD | | | | be able to avoid that completely! |
| is excessive hyperactivity-EXTREME hyperactivity! | | | | Children with ADD have a noticeable lack of |
| One cannot expect a child to sit still for hours at a time, | | | | self-control and an inability to censor their words and |
| but a child who suffers from ADD seems to be in | | | | their actions. They may appear to be tactless, rude, |
| perpetual motion. Within seconds of sitting down they | | | | insensitive, overly personal and generally unpleasant, |
| are wiggling in their seats, tapping their fingers, swinging | | | | when in reality they are simply unable to connect the |
| their feet, picking up objects and playing with them...you | | | | consequences to their actions in their own minds. |
| get the idea. | | | | The signs and symptoms of ADD are diverse and |
| Even high energy children are able to sit still for short | | | | puzzling, and may be very difficult to distinguish from a |
| periods of time, particularly if they are absorbed in | | | | simple overdose of energy blended with a healthy mix |
| some quiet activity (such as reading a book or coloring | | | | of childhood. If you believe your child may be suffering |
| a picture). They may not want to do it, but they can do | | | | from ADD, speak with your pediatrician. They will |
| it! Children with ADD cannot do it, which is why it is | | | | recommend you have your child tested if, after |
| often the first of the signs and symptoms of ADD to | | | | listening to your child's symptoms, they believe there is |
| attract the notice of parents and physicians.o Short | | | | a possibility of a positive diagnosis, and the two of you |
| attention span. Children with ADD have a very difficult | | | | can work together from that point to determine your |
| time focusing on one thing at a time. Their mind is | | | | child's needs and plan for their future. |