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Hyperactivity and ADHD
According to the DSM-IV - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the National Institute of Health, some signs of hyperactivity and impulsivity are:
- feeling restless, often fidgeting with hands or feet, or squirming
- running, climbing, or leaving a seat, in situations where sitting or quiet behavior is expected
- blurting out answers before hearing the whole question
- having difficulty waiting in line or for a turn
Everyone demonstrates some of these behaviors at various times. Thus, the DSM contains very specific guidelines for determining when they indicate ADHD:
- The behaviors must appear early in life, before age 7, and continue for at least 6 months.
- In children, they must be more frequent or severe than in others the same age.
- Above all, the behaviors must create a real handicap in at least two areas of a person's life, such as school, home, work, or social settings. So someone whose work or friendships are not impaired by these behaviors would not be diagnosed with ADHD. Nor would a child who seems overly active at school but functions well elsewhere.
Hyperactivity frequently manifests in ways that may confuse parents. An AD/HD child may shove his best friend impulsively, never contemplating the consequences. This same child may ‘accidentally’ ram into other children while standing in line at school. Typically, these are not motor skills problems but rather impulsive manifestations of hyperactivity.