ADHD Signs and Symptoms: Attention Difficulties
Margaret V. Austin, Ph.D., edited by C. E. Zupanick, Psy.D.The "attention deficit" component of ADHD (attention-deficit- hyperactive disorder) refers to inattention. The second primary symptom, hyperactivity, is not always present. Without hyperactivity, the diagnosis is called ADD, or ADHD, predominantly inattentive presentation. Thus, some people have 'only' the inattention difficulties described below. Others have both inattention and hyperactive aspects of the disorder.
This lack of attention, or inability to sustain focus on a task, means people are easily distracted. People with ADHD often have trouble organizing their thoughts and prioritizing activities into a logical sequence. As a result, they can appear scattered in their approach to many tasks. We are all bombarded with many things that can capture our attention. Imagine what it would be like if all these things seemed of equal importance. What if a butterfly flying by your kitchen window, a television show in the next room, and a fire on the stove in front of you, all seemed equally interesting and important? While most of us would naturally, without effort, pay quick and exclusive attention to the fire, people with ADHD cannot easily do this.
A similar, but seemingly opposite, difficulty may be evident. Instead of inattention, some people with ADHD "hyperfocus." This means when a topic or activity is very interesting, they become so focused that they lose sight of everything else. This ability to hyperfocus on interesting tasks makes the identification of attention problems more difficult. This is because the person can focus, at least for some (interesting) tasks. However, problems with focus become apparent when the tasks are less interesting.
You may wonder why hyperfocus is a problem. Well, most people are highly interested in only a few topics. As such, most of the tasks and activities in any given day are not particularly interesting. This leaves the person with hyperfocus bored and under-stimulated. They struggle to remain focused during the mundane tasks that are necessary to complete a project or assignment. Instead, they become restless, looking for something more interesting to do. Although this may be true for all of us at times, people with ADHD experience this difficulty frequently. This becomes problematic because sustained attention is necessary to bring projects to completion; a key element of success.
Inattention is often associated with poor school and work performance. This is because it is hard to perform well, or to acquire knowledge, when someone is unable to sustain concentration long enough to complete the performance, or learning task. Because of this difficulty, projects that require a lot of mental effort, or require sustained concentration, may be avoided. Completing homework is quite difficult for inattentive children. This often leads to frustration for both students and their caregivers. A lack of organizational skills, coupled with an impaired ability to develop these skills, can create further challenges for individuals with inattentive ADHD.
Symptoms of Inattention during infancy can include:
- Difficult to soothe;
- Less babbling speech the first year;
- Poor suckling or crying during feeding;
- Infrequent smiles; and,
- May not enjoy soft touch.
Symptoms of Inattention during the preschool years can include:
- Strong will;
- Unresponsive to discipline;
- Language difficulties;
- Difficulties with structured play; and,
- Toilet training problems.
Symptoms of Inattention during the elementary school years can include:
- Failing to pay close attention to details;
- Making frequent and careless mistakes during schoolwork or other activities;
- Trouble keeping attention focused during play or tasks;
- Appearing not to listen when being spoken to;
- Failing to follow instructions;
- Difficulty completing tasks;
- Avoiding tasks that require a high amount of mental effort and organization, such as school projects;
- Frequently losing items needed to complete activities, such as school supplies;
- Excessive distractibility;
- Forgetfulness;
- Procrastination, inability to begin an activity; and,
- Associated problems such as low self-esteem, depression, or anxiety.
Symptoms of Inattention during adolescence can include:
- Frequently shifting from one incomplete task to another;
- Difficulty organizing activities;
- Serious academic inconsistencies;
- Ongoing underachievement;
- Difficulties with routine household chores (cleaning, paying bills, etc.);
- May appear lazy or disinterested; and,
- More pronounced mood or behavior problems.
Resources
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Articles
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Childhood ADHD Overview
- Introduction to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Signs & Symptoms of ADHD
- ADHD Signs and Symptoms: Attention Difficulties
- ADHD Signs and Symptoms: Hyperactivity
- ADHD Signs and Symptoms: Impulsivity
- Are There Different Types of ADHD?
- The Social, Educational, Financial & Occupational Impact of ADHD
- What are the Legal Rights of Caregivers and Their Children with ADHD (USA)?
- A Positive Spin: Is There Anything Good about ADHD?
- Signs of ADHD in Children at Home
- Signs of ADHD in Children at School
- Signs of ADHD in Children in Peer Relationships
- How Do I know if My Child Needs an ADHD Evaluation?
- What Should I Do If I Think My Child Might Have ADHD?
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ADHD Discoveries and Controversies
- ADHD: New and Exciting Brain Research
- ADHD: New and Exciting Brain Research - Part II
- Neurotransmitter Changes with ADHD
- Executive Functions
- Neurodiversity: Is ADHD a True Mental Disorder?
- ADHD Statistics
- Cultural and Gender Differences in Prevalence Rates
- Should Children with ADHD Be Medicated?
- New and Promising Areas of Research
- Causes of ADHD in Children
- ADHD or Another Condition?
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Diagnosis of ADHD in Children
- Who Can Diagnose ADHD?
- How Does ADHD Multi-Source Assessment Work?
- Assessment Instruments: Behavioral Checklists
- Assessment Instruments: Intelligence Tests
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- Step 2: Clinical Interviews
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- Risks of ADHD Medication
- Risks of ADHD Medications - Part II
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- How Long Should ADHD Medication Treatment Last
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- Communicate and Collaborate with Schools
- Express Confidence in Your Child's Abilities
- Help Children Improve Social Skills and Peer Relationships
- Avoid Homework Battles and Monitor Medication
- I Think I have ADHD. What should I do?
- I Think I Have ADHD - Part II
- Famous People with ADHD
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- How is Adult ADHD Diagnosed?
- Diagnostic Challenge 1: Looking into the Past
- Diagnostic Challenge 2: ADHD versus Similar Disorders
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- Diagnostic Challenge 3 - Part II
- Diagnostic Challenge 4: A Concealed Disorder
- Specialized Tests and Tools
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Adult ADHD Treatment
- ADHD Medication Treatment
- Stimulant and Non-Stimulant Drugs for Adult ADHD
- Medication Timing, Dosage, Monitoring, and Duration of Treatment
- Weighing the Risks and Benefits of Adult ADHD Medications
- Psychotherapy for ADHD
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- Psycho-Education and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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Childhood ADHD Overview
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