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ADHD: An Age-by-Age Guide

Ages 0-6

ADHD: An Age-by-Age Guide The Early Years
At 11 months, Moira Munns' son, Zachary, was a whirlwind of activity. "I would be cleaning up one mess and he'd already be into the next one," says Munns, president of the Attention Deficit Information Network, Inc., a Needham, Massachusetts ADHD support organization. "This went on all day. When he learned to walk, I never sat down again." Zachary's interest in climbing and "no sense of caution" led to the first of many trips to the emergency room and eventually to a diagnosis of ADHD at age four.

In his book, Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents, Russell A. Barkley, Ph. D., says that potential predictors of ADHD include a family history of the disability, a greater-than-normal number of complications during pregnancy, and a pregnant woman's smoking and alcohol consumption and poor health. The following symptoms may indicate that an infant, toddler, or preschooler has ADHD:

· A strong, intense reaction to being stimulated
· A high activity level; finding it hard to sit still, being constantly in motion
· Demanding and being persistent in their desire for things
· An inability to play with a toy or do one activity for a long period of time
· Inattention, negativity and a low capacity to adjust to change
· Having trouble sharing, waiting, and taking turns
· Poor eating and sleeping habits
· Serious defiance

Ages 7-12

The Elementary Years
Sitting at his desk in the classroom was next to impossible for "Adam," who was identified as having ADHD in second grade, says his mother Amy. His difficulties with school didn't end when he came home.

"He didn't have papers, books, and assignments," she says. "He couldn't concentrate and homework took him hours. He would stop a million times to go to the refrigerator or bathroom."

During the school years, demands are placed on children to listen, cooperate, organize, follow directions, and pay attention - activities that children with ADHD may find difficult. This inability to deal with the structure of school may interfere with learning and academic achievement. A child with ADHD may:

· Be easily distracted and not able to finish assignments or chores
· Fidget and squirm in his/her seat and wander around the classroom
· Talk at inappropriate times and often blurt out answers to questions
· Be disorganized and frequently lose things
· Be socially immature, with few friends

If untreated, Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D., author of Taking Charge of ADHD, says that 30 to 50 percent of children between the ages of 7 and 10 with ADHD are likely to show symptoms of conduct disorder and behavior problems such as lying or petty thievery.

Ages 13-18

The Teen Years
"Edward" wasn't hyperactive. In fact, his mother, Mary, describes him as "extremely" relaxed and quiet. She felt he was a very smart kid, but he struggled through school.

"His teachers were always writing comments on his paper, 'doesn't follow directions' or 'has trouble following assignments,'" she says. "He was easily distracted. Even his thoughts were distracting."

It wasn't until Edward was diagnosed in his sophomore year of high school with ADD, which has the same symptoms as ADHD but without hyperactivity, that he finally got the help he needed.

Research has shown that children usually do not outgrow ADD or ADHD. Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D., author of Taking Charge of ADHD, says when the syndrome has not been identified and a program of behavior management implemented by the pre-teen and teen years, problems often escalate. According to Barkley:

· Thirty to 45 percent will receive special educational assistance by the end of sixth grade.
· Thirty percent of teens with the disorder may experiment with or abuse substances such as alcohol and marijuana.
· Thirty-five percent quit school before completion.
· At least three times as many teens with ADHD than those without the disorder have failed a grade, been suspended, or been expelled from school.

Recognizing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in your child can be difficult to determine and requires a medical diagnosis. Symptoms usually start before a child reaches age seven and last for six months or longer. Seeing signs of ADHD doesn't necessarily mean that a child has the syndrome, so discuss your observations with your pediatrician.