An experienced executive administrative assistant, Annalise McMahan holds a bachelor of arts in psychology from Ohio University. Annalise McMahan achieved her first authorship of a poster presentation for the ABCT 49th Annual Convention (SIG poster) entitled Psychometric Properties of Two Teacher Rated Screening Tools for Identifying ADHD in High School Youth.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be difficult to diagnose in children and young teenagers, as individuals in these age groups often demonstrate apparent symptoms of ADHD whether they are living with the condition or not. These include difficulty paying attention, impulsive behavior, and episodes of hyperactivity. Similarly, inattentiveness can be one of the most disruptive ADHD symptoms for children and teens, a quiet contrast to the hyperactive behavior typically associated with the condition.
More specific examples of ADHD symptoms include excessive talking and a physical inability to sit still in one place for an extended period of time. Symptoms related to inattentiveness, meanwhile, range from frequently losing things to avoiding activities that necessitate prolonged mental efforts.
Families should begin reaching out to medical professionals when these and similar symptoms start to negatively impact a child's home life and school work. If a doctor or mental health professional feels a child may be suffering from symptoms of ADHD, he or she may conduct further analysis to determine whether the condition falls under the predominantly hyperactive impulsive presentation or the predominantly inattentive presentation, at which point a treatment strategy can be developed.
