There is no "one size fits all" with ADHD. Each person is likely to vary in the type, number, frequency and severity of symptoms.

Common symptoms:

Early signs (Baby and Toddler)
  • Colic, cries at lot, difficult to hold and cuddle
  • Appears to have unusual strength, climbs
  • Cot rocking, head banging, poor sleepers
  • Runs away, bites, hits, dominated others
  • Nappy rash, fussy eaters
Inattention
  • Easily distracted, poor short term memory
  • Forgets instructions, fails to finish tasks
  • Disorganised, appears not to hear
  • Learning difficulties
Hyperactivity
  • Has difficulty in sitting still or staying seated
  • Excessive restlessness, in constant motion
  • Insatiable (never satisfied, never enough)
  • Has a “driven” quality, runs and jumps
  • Can also be Hypoactive (under active)
Impulsivity
  • Acts without thought or sense of safety
  • Interrupts and intrudes on others
  • Needs constant supervision
  • Unpredictable behaviour
Emotional Instability
  • Irrational, overreacts to touch, pain, sound
  • Impatient, intolerant, extremes of feeling
  • Easily frustrated, tantrums, moody
  • Peer rejection, low self esteem
Anti Social Behaviour
  • Argumentative, swears, fascination with fire
  • Oppositional behaviour / conduct disorder
  • Aggressive, destructive, defiant, devious
  • Can act with cruelty and violence, steals
  • Unresponsive to punishment, lies
Co-ordination difficulties
  • Difficulty in dressing, lacing and buttoning
  • Poor ball skills, mixed left-right dominance
  • Writing at times large and spidery
  • Reversals in letters and spelling
  • Clumsy, lacks good balance
Physical Symptoms
  • Eye troubles (dark circles, puffiness, squint)
  • Food and drink cravings eg sugar, milk
  • Headaches, muscle or stomach pains
  • Excessive thirst and perspiration
  • Poor temperature sense control
  • Ear troubles (infections, glue ear)
  • Allergies, eczema, asthma, hives
  • Digestive upsets, air hunger
  • Prone to infections, eg colds

Possible warning signs of ADHD in teenage girls

  • ​  Disorganised and untidy
  •   Day-dreamy – difficulty in getting things done
  •   Talkative – fast, non stop prattle – interrupts others
  •   Easily upset,  over-reactive, emotional
  •   Never on time, (poor time management)
  •   Relationship/sexuality   problems
  •   Feelings of being overwhelmed
  •   Feelings of being unloved
  •   Drives erratically, has lots of accidents, some afraid to drive at all
  •   Worries about the future
  •   Eats/drinks to calm themselves down

Possible warning signs of ADHD IN teenage boys

  • Impulsive behaviour, takes risks, can’t see the consequences of actions
  • Argumentative, has to have the last word, always right
  • No patience, flies off the handle easily
  • Drives recklessly for fun, no care or consideration
  • Difficulty concentrating and focusing, finds it hard to complete tasks
  • Easily distracted and finds it hard to focus
  • Often experienced in unlawful drug taking and drinking alcohol to excess
  • Has difficulty holding down a job
  • Forgetful, loses things
  • Slow to process information and directions
  • Careless with an ‘I don’t care’ attitude.
  • Often late (poor time management)
  • Although often very intelligent, has low self esteem
  • Doesn’t like being told what to do
  • Dislikes any authority
  • Emotionally immature
  • Hates being criticized in company
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