Symptoms of ADHD

Is your child very fidgety, impulsive and disruptive and talks excessively? Or is he a dreamer, disorganized and lives in his own world? Learn more about the different subtypes of ADHD.

There are three primary subtypes of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): the primarily inattentive type, the primarily hyperactive/impulsive type, and the combined type with a number of co-existing disorders.

1. ADHD primarily inattentive type

Someone with this type of ADHD:

• Fails to pay close attention to details or makes careless mistakes
• Has difficulty sustaining attention
• Doesn’t appear to listen
• Struggles to follow through on instructions
• Has difficulty with organization    
• Avoids or dislikes tasks requiring sustained mental effort
• Is easily distracted
• Is forgetful in daily activities

Clinically these individuals present as the classical dreamers. They’re disorganized and often live in their own little world, which leads to major problems with planning and task completion.

Children with these symptoms are more likely to present with low self-esteem, depression and even suicide than the other subtypes.

This is the most common form of ADHD among school-aged children, teenagers and adults. It’s usually not diagnosed early in childhood, and more likely to be diagnosed between 9 and 14 years of age.

2. ADHD primarily hyperactive/impulsive type

A person with this type of ADHD:

• Fidgets with hands or feet, or squirms in a chair
• Has difficulty remaining seated
• Runs about or climbs excessively
• Has difficulty engaging in activities quietly
• Acts as if driven by a motor
• Talks excessively
• Blurts out answers before questions have been completed
• Has difficulty waiting or taking turns
• Interrupts or intrudes upon others

The classical hyperactive group are often a danger to themselves because of the impulsive behavior. They often present at a very early age (often at four years of age). Most often, the prognosis cannot be accurately predicted at this early stage.

3. ADHD combined type

This is the most common subtype. These individuals meet both sets of inattention and hyperactive/impulsive criteria. This type of ADHD is generally identified in Grade R when these children are not school ready, or in the lower grades when they’re unable to work independently or keep up with the workload.

Coexisting disorders

In studies, as many as 60% of individuals with ADHD present with at least one other major disorder (co-morbidity). The most common of these coexisting disorders are briefly described below.

a. Disruptive behavior disorders

1. Oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD):

This involves a pattern of arguing with multiple adults, losing one's temper, refusing to follow rules, blaming others, deliberately annoying others, and being angry and resentful.

2. Conduct disorder (CD):

CD is associated with efforts to break rules without getting caught. Such children may be aggressive to people or animals, destroy property, lie or steal from others, run away, be truant from school, or break curfews. CD is often described as delinquency.

b. Mood disorders

1. Depression: ADHD is often associated with depression, which usually appears after ADHD has developed. Depression is characterized by sadness (a child may cry frequently and for no apparent reason), social withdrawal, loss of appetite, self-recrimination, insomnia or excessive sleeping, and a loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed.

2. Bipolar disorder

This disorder may present with symptoms of ADHD in the pre-pubertal child. A family history of bipolar disorder is an important indicator. This disorder takes the form of periods of abnormally elevated mood (mania) alternating with episodes of depression. In children, the manic phase can manifest as pervasive irritability and unprovoked aggression. Signs that may alert one that bipolar disorder should be considered are bouts of major aggression with indescribable physical power, severe moodiness on wakening, hyper-sexuality, and worsening of ADHD symptoms when the child is put on stimulant medication.

The manic phase in adults is usually characterized by an expansive mood: the person feels euphoric and extremely confident. He or she may go for days without sleeping, tends to speak rapidly and incessantly, and is inclined to behave inappropriately in social settings (having lost their normal inhibitions). During a manic phase, these individuals often develop an unrealistic belief in their capabilities. As a result, they engage in activities or projects that are doomed to fail and which often lead them into financial or other difficulties.

3. Anxiety

Approximately one third of children with ADHD also have an anxiety disorder. People with anxiety disorders often worry excessively about a number of things and may feel edgy, stressed out, tired and tense. They may also have trouble getting restful sleep. In children, it often presents with irritability and acting-out behavior.

A small number of individuals report brief episodes of severe anxiety (panic attacks) with complaints of a pounding heart, sweating, shaking, choking, difficulty breathing, nausea, stomach pain, dizziness, and fears of going crazy or dying. These episodes may occur for no reason.

c. Tourette's disorder

About 7% of people with ADHD have Tourette's disorder, which involves motor and vocal tics. Tics are sudden, rapid, recurrent, non-rhythmic, involuntary movements or vocalizations. The diagnosis of ADHD may precede the onset of tics. These individuals may also present with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

d. Learning disabilities

About 60 -75% of individuals with ADHD have some form of learning disability. Learning-disabled persons may have a specific problem reading or calculating, but usually have normal IQ.

e. Substance abuse Research suggests that adolescents with ADHD are at increased risk for very early cigarette use, which is likely to be followed by alcohol and drug abuse if their symptoms aren’t controlled.

Sources:
Reviewed by Prof André Venter, Head: Clinical Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State. MB ChB, MMed, PhD (Canada), DCH, FCP (Paed) SA. July 2018.