Disease Awareness #9 - ADHD

My ninth Disease Awareness is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD.  I chose ADHD because Noah was diagnosed with this earlier in the year.  Noah has been struggling in school.  He started seeing a therapist to help him understand why his sister is the way she is.  Noah could not understand Ashleigh's disease when we told him, but seeing the therapist has helped.  We told him about Noah's school struggles and he along with the psychologist diagnosed him with ADHD.  It took a few months to get this diagnosis.  

"Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a problem of not being able to focus, being overactive, not being able control behavior, or a combination of these. For these problems to be diagnosed as ADHD, they must be out of the normal range for a person's age and development."

Symptoms of ADHD fall into 3 groups:

1. Not being able to focus (inattentiveness)

2.  Being extremely active (hyperactivity)

3. Not being able to control behavior (impulsivity)

Noah falls under #1.  

Inattentive Symptoms:

*Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork

This is one of Noah's symptoms.  He does not look over his work.  There is more to his schoolwork.

*Has difficulty keeping attention during tasks or play

 This is another symptom for Noah.  Noah's attention span is not long.  He gets frustrated really easily.  

*Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly

*Does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork or chores and tasks

This is definitely Noah.  There were so many assignments not done correctly.

*Has problems organizing tasks and activities

This is definitely Noah, too.  He is working on being more organized.  His organization skills are awful.  

*Avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork)
This is Noah.

*Often loses toys, assignments, pencils, books, or tools needed for tasks or activities
This is Noah.  

*Is easily distracted

This is definitely Noah. 

*Is often forgetful in daily activities

This is definitely Noah by not remembering which books, assignments, and tests are due when.  I ask Noah daily what assignments he has, what tests are on what day.

I want to get an ADHD book.  So far, I found this book that I want to get.  It is 1,000 Best Tips for ADHD: Expert Answers and Bright Advice to Help You and Your Child by Susan Ashley PhD.  If you have read a book on ADHD and liked/loved it, please let me know.

Thanks for reading!
Melissa