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Home » Consumer Information » Children with Disabilities

Attention Deficit Disorder

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a set of symptoms that reduce one's ability to concentrate, and it can also cause sudden changes in demeanor in addition to problems in social settings.

Children with ADD under the age of 12 do not have the ability to focus on one task at a time. ADD affects a child's daily functional skills in terms of what they can accomplish in the classroom and the often volatile relationships that they have with teachers and parents.

Signs of ADD will gradually build in a child for many months, and if these symptoms go untreated, they can contribute to self-esteem and behavioral issues in the coming years.

Just because a child has ADD does not mean that they are hyperactive, but they may not be able to pay attention to anything for very long and could become bored with an activity after just a couple minutes. However, if the child is participating in something that they truly love, their extended attention span may shock you. On the other hand, trying to get them to organize their messy room or learn how to play a new game is probably going to be a different story.

Diagnosis

In order to determine whether a child has ADD or is exhibiting some of the early signs of it, physicians try to answer the following questions:

  • Are the patient's behaviors redundant, long-lasting, and omnipresent?
  • Do they impact the patient's ability to carry out their daily regimen?
  • Are the patient's behaviors less prevalent in other children the same age?
  • Are the patient's behaviors a persistent problem and not just a reaction to a short-term situation?
  • Does the patient display this kind of behavior everywhere they go or just in specific places?

Assessing ADD in a child under age of five is next to impossible because it is only natural for preschool children to act out in various circumstances. Children also adapt to the surrounding environment and change very quickly during this stage of their life. Since children grow at different speeds and have all sorts of personalities and energy levels, consulting with a medical professional is the best way to determine if any of these symptoms indicate ADD or if they are normal.

Symptoms

The following are excellent indicators of an ADD diagnosis:

  • Problems maintaining focus on educational or entertaining activities
  • Misplacing or forgetting toys, writing utensils, books, etc.
  • Attempts to stay away from activities that demand concentration
  • Highly disorganized and very minimal attention to detail
  • Difficulty planning ahead
  • Absentminded
  • Often becomes sidetracked
  • Cannot follow directions to completion (jumps from one activity to the next before finishing the previous one)
  • Appears to ignore someone speaking to them
  • Commits careless errors
  • Forgets regularly scheduled activities
  • Daydreams often throughout the day
  • Distracted by meaningless images and noises

If your child suffers from ADD, you may be entitled to be compensated for their condition. Contact a social security disability attorney to find out more.