Characteristics of ADD Children

• quiet child who sleeps a lot
• distractible, cannot focus and attend easily
• Irritable temperament
• precocious motor development;may "run before walking"
• may show some lack of interest in play

• withdraws in social settings, frequently plays by self
• temper tantrums out of frustration
• many minor health problems requiring physician's attention
• behavioral impulsitivity and unpredictability creating peer conflict
• prefers playing to learning

• frustration due to school and peer problems
• attention-concentration problems with some academic rejection
• social immaturity, teasing by peers and early peer rejection
• poor self concept and beginning withdrawal from peers
• may avoid cutting, coloring within lines and other fine motor activities

• increasingly unhappy with more teasing and bullying by peers
• problems with language learning and written work contributing to more frustration and feeling "dumb"
• psychological problems of anxiety or depression, frequently with significant social withdrawal
• dislikes school, cries easily and feels "disliked"

• social adjustment problems with poor self esteem
• academic failure due to poor motivation and to learning and difficulties
• may avoid school through physical complaints or refusal to attend
• does not readily participate in peer group activities, may retreat to home life
• significant depression, wishes "to be dead or never born"

• academic underachievement with unremediated learning problems
• poor self concept with marital adjustment and child rearing difficulties
• job performance and job satisfaction difficulties
• possible predisposition toward depression in later life