{"id":20167,"date":"2021-12-12T09:19:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-12T09:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=20167"},"modified":"2021-12-12T09:19:00","modified_gmt":"2021-12-12T09:19:00","slug":"the-18-red-flags-of-adhd","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-adhd\/the-18-red-flags-of-adhd\/","title":{"rendered":"The 18 ‘Red Flags’ of ADHD"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over 11% of all children between the ages of 4 and 17 in the United States have ADHD (Center for Disease Control, 2012).\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

This represents a 42% increase from 2003 to 2011!<\/b><\/p>\n

A child\u2019s behavior and attention-span can be affected by many different things at any given time: How much and what they\u2019ve had to eat, how much they\u2019ve slept, who they\u2019re with and more.<\/p>\n

So, how do you know if your child\u2019s hyperactivity or inattentiveness falls within accepted norms, or is a symptom of something more serious, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?<\/i><\/p>\n

While diagnosis is not always straightforward, there are a few \u2018red flags\u2019 that you should be concerned about, as they may be signs your child has ADHD.<\/b><\/p>\n

Firstly, you should compare your child\u2019s usual energy-level, attentiveness and impulse control with that of their friends and peers of the same age.<\/p>\n

Your child\u2019s teacher could be a great resource to get a complete and informed picture of this, especially if they have noticed significant differences in behavior between your child and others in their age group.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to note that not all children with attention deficit disorder are hyperactive, and that the condition may manifest differently in girls and boys.<\/p>\n

The 18 \u2018red flags\u2019 that may indicate ADHD<\/b><\/h2>\n

In order to diagnose ADHD, the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association\u2019s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual considers 18 core behaviors<\/b>.<\/p>\n

These behaviors are divided into two groups: hyperactivity\/impulsivity and inattention.<\/p>\n

Hyperactivity and impulsivity<\/b><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Does not wait for questions to be fully asked before blurting out an answer<\/li>\n
  2. Frequently moving, even when seated: fidgeting, tapping hands or feet, or squirming<\/li>\n
  3. Habitually jumps into other people\u2019s conversations, games, etc.<\/li>\n
  4. Displays inability to stay seated when expected<\/li>\n
  5. Often has trouble waiting their turn<\/li>\n
  6. Is often in motion, rarely settling down, acting \u201cas if driven by a motor\u201d<\/li>\n
  7. Habitually runs about or climbs at wrong times and in the places<\/li>\n
  8. Can\u2019t stop talking<\/li>\n
  9. Often yells and has trouble with volume control while taking part in leisure activities<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    SEE RELATED: <\/b>Can Vision Problems be Misdiagnosed as ADHD?<\/a><\/p>\n

    If your child has been diagnosed, schedule an eye exam with an eye doctor near<\/a> you to rule out any vision problems.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\t

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    Find a Vision Therapy Eye Doctor Near You<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t
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