Believe It or Not, Children Don’t Have to Be Hyperactive to Be Diagnosed with ADHD
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. It is often thought of as a condition that primarily affects boys who are hyperactive, impulsive, and fidgety. However, the inattentive subtype of ADHD, characterized by being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized, is often overlooked. This subtype can be especially difficult to diagnose in younger children and may go unnoticed by educators most familiar with hyperactive and impulsive symptoms.
Symptoms of inattentive ADHD include:
- Failure to pay close attention to details
- Careless mistakes
- Difficulty maintaining sustained attention on disliked tasks (e.g., homework)
- Losing essential items (e.g., school materials, keys, cell phone)
- Not seeming to listen when spoken to directly
- Not following through on instructions and failing to finish schoolwork or chores
- Trouble staying organized
- Getting distracted easily
- Being frequently forgetful in daily activities (e.g., brushing teeth)
Parents can help their inattentive child at school by getting an evaluation, contacting teachers, and enlisting a neuropsychologist to advocate for academic accommodations. At home, creating a structured environment, establishing routines, and using visual aids can effectively manage symptoms. Encouraging a child’s strengths and passions is important, as children with ADHD are often creative, excellent problem solvers, and outside-the-box thinkers.
