What are the signs of ADHD in a preschooler? Can preschoolers be diagnosed with ADHD? Research suggests that symptoms of ADHD can emerge in young children. In fact, to qualify for an ADHD diagnosis under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), the symptoms must be present before the age of 12. But because preschool children are typically active and easily distractable, identifying early signs of ADHD can be a challenge.

In general, today’s parents have more research-based information available to them than did previous generations of caregivers. But so-called “expert” opinions often conflict about what constitutes typical toddler behavior. Some experts minimize extreme behavior and suggest that most children will simply “outgrow” hyperactive or impulsive tendencies. Others over-pathologize common variations in typical child development, such as when preschoolers struggle to stay engaged in adult-oriented activities that are challenging for most young children. The contradictory information can leave parents perplexed about how to address their child’s behavior and whether that behavior indicates early signs of ADHD.

As such, conversations between parents and providers on the early identification and treatment of ADHD are critical. Indeed, some children will exhibit emergence of ADHD in early development, and the accurate diagnosis of children with ADHD can, in turn, help parents learn strategies to mitigate challenging behavior and teach skills that lead to long-term success.

This webinar will provide an overview of the behavioral onset patterns of ADHD as well as the early signs, symptoms, and treatment for preschool children with suspected ADHD.

In this webinar, participants will also learn:

• How to differentiate between typical development and behaviors among preschoolers that may indicate ADHD
• About the different types of ADHD and their early signs and symptoms
• How a diagnosis of ADHD is made during the preschool years
• Evidenced-based treatment guidelines for managing ADHD in young children at home and in preschool
• How to advocate for your child’s needs

Watch the Video Replay

Enter your email address in the box above labeled “Video Replay + Slide Access” to watch the video replay (closed captions available) and download the slide presentation.

Download or Stream the Podcast Audio

Click the play button below to listen to this episode directly in your browser, click the  symbol to download to listen later, or open in your podcasts app: Apple Podcasts; Audacy; Spotify; Amazon Music; iHeartRADIO 

ADHD in Preschool: More Resources

• Self-Test: ADHD Symptoms in Children
• Read: Isn’t My 4-Year-Old Too Young to Be Diagnosed With ADHD?
• Read: “The Day My Hyperactive Toddler Aced His ADHD Test”
• eBook: A Parent’s Guide to Effective Routines

Obtain a Certificate of Attendance

If you attended the live webinar on August 8, 2024, watched the video replay, or listened to the podcast, you may purchase a certificate of attendance option (cost: $10). Note: ADDitude does not offer CEU credits. Click here to purchase the certificate of attendance option »

Meet the Expert Speakers

Alexis Bancroft, Ph.D., is a psychologist in the Autism Center at the Child Mind Institute. She is a nationally certified school psychologist and a leader in the field of early childhood development. Dr. Bancroft specializes in the psychological and neuropsychological evaluation of individuals with autism and co-occurring neurodevelopmental disorders. She received her Ph.D. in school psychology from Columbia University and completed an APA-accredited internship at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, NY. Dr. Bancroft also completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship program in pediatric psychology, with an emphasis in neurodevelopmental disorders, at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Read more here.

Cynthia Martin, Psy.D., is the Senior Director and a senior psychologist in the Autism Center at the Child Mind Institute. She is a nationally recognized expert in autism, neurodevelopmental disorders and rare genetic conditions that affect development and behavior. Dr. Martin is an international trainer on gold standard assessments used in autism evaluations and she specializes in the comprehensive evaluation, early detection and evidenced-based treatment of autism and related disorders. Read more here.

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ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents are routinely overlooked by general practitioners (GPs), who see these patients more often than they do their neurotypical peers in the two years preceding a diagnosis, according to the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood. With better training in ADHD, GPs could recognize these frequent visits — for everything from asthma and eczema to behavioral disorders — as possible indicators of ADHD and opportunities for early evaluation, say the researchers behind the study. ¹

The study found that children ultimately diagnosed with ADHD seek medical care, consult healthcare providers, undergo surgery, and get admitted to hospitals at double the rate of their neurotypical peers in the years preceding diagnosis. They also show increased rates of physical conditions, such as asthma and eczema; behavioral and mental health issues; learning differences, such as dyspraxia and dyslexia; autism; tics; and insomnia before receiving an ADHD diagnosis.

The research team from the University of Nottingham and King’s College London reported that reasons for delays in ADHD diagnosis referrals stemmed from GPs’ difficulty recognizing ADHD symptoms in children and a lack of specific recommendations for earlier ADHD detection in current guidelines from organizations such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the American Academy of Pediatrics. ²,³,⁴

William W. Dodson, M.D., LF-APA, clinician, writer, speaker, and consultant on ADHD medicine, says the lack of training hinders pediatricians and nurse practitioners as well as psychiatrists. “Around 93% of adult psychiatrists, when asked, report that they’ve never had any ADHD training, either in their residency or in their continuing medical education, whether in children, adolescents, or adults,” he says.

Inadequate training in early signs of ADHD may cause GPs to miss opportunities to identify and evaluate ADHD symptoms in children. “The peak age for diagnosis of ADHD is at 7 to 9 years,” the study’s authors wrote. “Yet, it is likely to have been present from an earlier age, with persistent symptoms.”

Untreated ADHD is associated with poor relationships and social functioning, low self-esteem, academic under-attainment, and injuries. In addition, children with ADHD may incur greater healthcare costs before their diagnosis.⁵

“The study underscores the importance of conducting additional research to identify children with ADHD at an earlier stage, thereby enabling them to receive more timely and effective treatments, including therapeutic interventions and medications,” the study’s authors wrote.

The clinical practice guidelines for ADHD, developed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), recommend medication as the first-line treatment for ADHD in school-age children, citing a formal review of 78 studies on the treatment of ADHD, which “consistently supported the superiority of stimulant over the non-drug treatment.” (Footnote 5) According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), 80% of the children who use stimulant medications, either alone or combined with behavior therapy, increase focus and decrease impulsivity.⁶,⁷

“Treatment with ADHD stimulant medication prior to age 9 may actually decrease your child’s likelihood of abusing drugs and alcohol later in life, according to research,” says Timothy Wilens, M.D., an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. “Considerable evidence also suggests that children taking ADHD medication commonly experience improvements to academic and social functioning, which translates to improved self-esteem, lower rates of self-medication with drugs or alcohol, and decreased risk of substance abuse.”⁸

The population-based matched case-control study analyzed the medical records from 1998-2015 of 8,127 children and adolescents aged 4 to 17 years who were diagnosed with ADHD and 40,136 without ADHD from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, a primary care database of 60 million patients in the U.K.

Sources

¹Prasad, V., Rezel-Potts, E., White, P., et al. (2024). Use of Healthcare Services Before Diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Population-Based Matched Case-Control Study. Archives of Disease in Childhood. https://adc.bmj.com/content/109/1/46
²Sayal, K., Prasad, V., Daley, D., et al . (2018). ADHD in Children and Young People: Prevalence, Care Pathways, and Service Provision. Lancet Psychiatry. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(17)3016
³Tatlow-Golden, M., Prihodova, L., Gavin, B., et al. (2016) What Do General Practitioners Know About ADHD? Attitudes and Knowledge Among First-Contact Gatekeepers: Systematic Narrative Review. BMC Fam Pract. doi:10.1186/s12875-016-0516-x
⁴Sayal, K., Taylor, E., Beecham, J., et al. (2002). Pathways to Care in Children at Risk of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Br J Psychiatry. doi:10.1192/bjp.181.1.43
⁵Holden, S.E., Jenkins-Jones, S., Poole, C.D., et al. (2013). The Prevalence and Incidence, Resource Use and Financial Costs of Treating People with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the United Kingdom (1998 to 2010). Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. doi:10.1186/1753-2000-7-
⁶Pliszka, Steven. (2007). “Practice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.” Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. doi:10.1097/chi.0b013e318054e724
⁷Clinical Practice Guideline: Treatment of the School-Aged Child With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. American Academy of Pediatrics. (Oct. 2001). https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/108/4/1033
⁸McCabe SE, et al. (2016). Age of Onset, Duration, and Type of Medication Therapy for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Substance Use During Adolescence: A Multi-Cohort National Study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016; 55(6):479-486: doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2016.03.011

Many factors may explain the overlap, and one of them I can’t stress enough: ADHD does not happen in a vacuum, and its effects are far more impairing when the condition goes undiagnosed, untreated, or improperly treated.

Untreated ADHD Causes Feelings of Inadequacy

Undiagnosed and/or untreated ADHD makes children, teens, and adults who are otherwise bright and competent feel severely inadequate. It’s not difficult to see how; untreated symptoms of ADHD, from impulsivity and emotional instability to poor planning and execution skills compromise one’s ability to find success in school, work, relationships, and other parts of life. Ongoing challenges and failures, especially when the root cause is neither identified nor treated, makes these individuals feel like failures — like they aren’t trying hard enough. Self-esteem, as a result, plummets.

Other emotions — like anger, resentment, and feelings of worthlessness — often come up as a result of experiencing challenges related to undiagnosed and/or untreated ADHD. Emotional sensitivity and reactivity are not uncommon, especially strong emotional responses to failure. These emotions cause depression and anxiety to develop. Irritability and feelings of worthlessness, after all, are symptoms of depression.

Living with ADHD and depression, of course, creates its own set of challenges. Children with ADHD and depression, for example, experience more impairment in social and academic functioning than do children with just ADHD or children without ADHD.²

[Self-Test: Could You Be Showing Signs of Depression?]

In adolescents with ADHD, feelings of worthlessness are particularly important to recognize, as one study found that these feelings are directly related to suicidal thoughts and planning.³

Women with ADHD Are at Greater Risk for Depression

ADHD does not disappear with age for most people⁴, and the longer ADHD goes undiagnosed, the more problems it potentially creates as life’s demands and responsibilities evolve in complexity. This may explain why females with ADHD — who tend to be diagnosed later than males — are more than twice as likely to develop depression compared to females without ADHD.⁵ Hyperactivity and impulsivity — obvious signs of ADHD — are not so common in girls and women, which may explain why clinicians miss or misdiagnose their ADHD. What we often see now is women getting diagnosed while in college.

Depression also appears to take a greater toll on women with ADHD, as depression has an earlier age of onset, lasts longer, comes with more severe symptoms, a higher rate of suicidality, and a greater likelihood of requiring psychiatric hospitalization in this group compared to women without ADHD.⁵

The Importance of Recognizing ADHD, Depression, and Anxiety

Yes, there is significant comorbidity between ADHD, depression, and anxiety. But even together, these conditions are treatable. Complete, thorough evaluations are a must to identify and properly manage these conditions in patients as early as possible. Measurement-based tools can help clinicians in this respect. Clinicom® is a psychiatric assessment tool I have been developing and refining for many years to help clinicians identify more conditions that may be comorbid with a patient’s presenting complaint. The assessment tool, completed by patients, can identify 80 psychiatric conditions, and it also takes a patient’s environmental stressors into account. (As epigenetics research tells us, we cannot ignore our environment, and adverse life events do appear to be linked to a whole host of conditions, including ADHD.^{6 7})

[Get This Free Download: Signs of Depression That May Surprise You]

As an example, I recently saw an 18-year-old female patient — a college student — with depression as her chief complaint. She completed the Clinicom assessment before her visit, and after a thorough evaluation that accounted for personal and family history and stressors, we realized she exhibited symptoms of ADHD — undiagnosed until then — and generalized anxiety disorder, among other conditions.

I can tell you story after story of seeing patients who did not know they had ADHD, and who had succumbed to the belief that they were failures and would never accomplish anything. I remember another patient I first saw as she was finishing high school. After an extensive evaluation, we diagnosed her with ADHD and started her on treatment. Many years later, she came back to my clinic — when she was finishing her medical school residency — to thank us for treating her. And that meant the world to me.

Untreated ADHD in Adults: Next Steps

• Read: Depression — When It’s More Than a Symptom Of ADHD
• Read: What’s Behind the “Depression Gap” Impacting Women?
• Read: Late Diagnosis — Was ADHD to Blame All Along?

The content for this article was derived from the ADDitude ADHD Experts webinar titled, “New Insights Into and Treatments for Comorbid Depression” [Video Replay & Podcast #456]  with Nelson M. Handal, M.D., DFAPA, which was broadcast on May 24, 2023.

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Sources

¹ Kessler, R. C., Adler, L., Barkley, R., Biederman, J., Conners, C. K., Demler, O., Faraone, S. V., Greenhill, L. L., Howes, M. J., Secnik, K., Spencer, T., Ustun, T. B., Walters, E. E., & Zaslavsky, A. M. (2006). The prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in the United States: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. The American journal of psychiatry, 163(4), 716–723. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.2006.163.4.716

² Blackman, G. L., Ostrander, R., & Herman, K. C. (2005). Children with ADHD and depression: a multisource, multimethod assessment of clinical, social, and academic functioning. Journal of attention disorders, 8(4), 195–207. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054705278777

³ Katzenmajer-Pump, L., Komáromy, D., & Balázs, J. (2022). The importance of recognizing worthlessness for suicide prevention in adolescents with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Frontiers in psychiatry, 13, 969164. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.969164

⁴ Michielsen, M., Semeijn, E., Comijs, H. C., van de Ven, P., Beekman, A. T., Deeg, D. J., & Kooij, J. J. (2012). Prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in older adults in The Netherlands. The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science, 201(4), 298–305. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.111.101196

⁵ Biederman, J., Ball, S. W., Monuteaux, M. C., Mick, E., Spencer, T. J., McCREARY, M., Cote, M., & Faraone, S. V. (2008). New insights into the comorbidity between ADHD and major depression in adolescent and young adult females. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 47(4), 426–434. https://doi.org/10.1097/CHI.0b013e31816429d3

The Caregiver’s Guide to ADHD Diagnosis is a joint effort from WebMD and ADDitude designed to guide individuals through the difficult, important decisions they face when pursuing an evaluation for ADHD and its comorbid conditions in their children. This guided email course will cover the following topics:

DECISION 1: How can I better understand ADHD, its causes, and its manifestations?
DECISION 2: How can I understand the aspects of ADHD that might be new to the doctor?
DECISION 3: How can I improve the odds of an accurate ADHD evaluation for my child?
DECISION 4: How can I find the most appropriate professional to diagnose and treat my child’s ADHD?
DECISION 5: What should a thorough evaluation for pediatric ADHD include and exclude?
DECISION 6: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation screens for psychiatric comorbidities?
DECISION 7: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation considers look-alike comorbidities?
DECISION 8: Should my child be screened for the sleep, eating, and other disorders?

NOTE: This resource is for personal use only.

SLEEP: What sleep disorders commonly co-occur with ADHD in children?

A: In one study, about half the parents said their child with ADHD had difficulty sleeping. They said their child felt tired when they woke up, had nightmares, or had… | Keep reading on WebMD »

SPD: What distinguishes ADHD from sensory processing disorder?

A: Both disorders will make you restless and unable to concentrate. You could also find it hard to control your emotions. Children might have frequent meltdowns… | Keep reading on WebMD »

EATING DISORDERS: What distinguishes eating disorders from ADHD?

A: For individuals with bulimia nervosa, food is self-medication for anxiety, stress, anger, and boredom. Eating is stimulating, and food fills the gap. People with ADHD who… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

PTSD:  Does trauma increase the likelihood for ADHD in children, and vice versa?

A: ADHD is a largely genetic condition that impacts specific areas of the brain. Because trauma affects those same areas of… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

BFRB: What body-focused repetitive behaviors common co-occur with ADHD in children?

A: Recent studies suggest that 20 to 38 percent of children with trichotillomania also meet the criteria for ADHD. Available prevalence rates are few, but they suggest that… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

TRAUMA: What should I know about the impact of trauma and stress on developing brains?

A: Under stress and exposure to trauma, the brain effectively enters survival mode. It funnels more fuel and resources into the limbic system and diverts them away from the prefrontal cortex… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

FIRST-PERSON: “Sometimes, Raising My Sensitive Child Was Hell”

“Baths, sounds, clothing textures, food textures, naptime, bedtime — almost every daily routine set off meltdowns that made our daily life hell. I called them tantrums, but looking back, they were much more than that. My thought every day was ‘just get through it.'” | Keep reading on ADDitude »

RELATED RESOURCES

SYMPTOM TEST: Sensory Processing Disorder in Children

SPD interferes with the body’s ability to interpret sensory messages from the brain, and may manifest as meltdowns or anxiety. | Take the self-test on ADDitude »

SYMPTOM TEST: Eating Disorders in Children and Teens

Does your child express concerns about their body size? Feel guilty after eating? | Take the self-test on ADDitude »

8-Part Guide to ADHD Diagnosis in Children, from WebMD x ADDitude:

DECISION 1: How can I better understand ADHD, its causes, and its manifestations?
DECISION 2: How can I understand the aspects of ADHD that might be new to the doctor?
DECISION 3: How can I improve the odds of an accurate ADHD evaluation for my child?
DECISION 4: How can I find a professional to diagnose and treat my child’s ADHD?
DECISION 5: What should a thorough evaluation for pediatric ADHD include and exclude?
DECISION 6: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation screens for psychiatric comorbidities?
DECISION 7: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation considers look-alike comorbidities?
> DECISION 8: Should my child be screened for the sleep, eating, and other disorders?

LDs: What distinguishes ADHD from learning differences?

A: Between 30–50% of those with ADHD also have a learning disability — and if an LD is not recognized early, a child might exhibit ADHD-like symptoms… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

ODD: What distinguishes ADHD from oppositional defiant disorder?

A: ADHD is a type of brain disorder that often lasts well into adulthood. ODD is a type of behavior disorder that’s mostly diagnosed in childhood. If your child has ODD, they tend to be… | Keep reading on WebMD »

AUTISM: What distinguishes ADHD from autism in children?

A: Autism spectrum disorders are a series of related developmental disorders that can affect language skills, behavior, socializing, and… | Keep reading on WebMD »

CD: What distinguishes ADHD from conduct disorder?

A: While kids with ADHD might be disruptive, they aren’t typically aggressive. When kids show a pattern of more aggressive, violent, or antisocial behaviors… | Keep reading on WebMD »

TIC DISORDERS: What distinguishes ADHD from Tourette’s Syndrome?

A: The main symptom of Tourette’s syndrome is repeated movements or sounds, called tics, that a person can’t control. They can be simple, like constant eye blinking, sniffing… | Keep reading on WebMD »

FIRST-PERSON: “How My Son’s ADHD Masked His Dyslexia”

“Some of the signs were obvious, in retrospect. He was a late reader. He had significant struggles with spelling. But here’s where I went off track: I wrongly assumed that these issues were due to his ADHD distractibility. So many other things had landed in that bucket, why not this?” | Keep reading on ADDitude »

RELATED RESOURCES

SYMPTOM TEST: ODD in Children

Is your child touchy, prickly, or easily offended? Test limits by ignoring rules or arguing? | Take the self-test on ADDitude »

SYMPTOM TEST: Learning Disabilities in Children

Could your child’s reading, math, spelling, or coordination challenges be signs of a learning difference? | Take the self-test on ADDitude »

8-Part Guide to ADHD Diagnosis in Children, from WebMD x ADDitude:

DECISION 1: How can I better understand ADHD, its causes, and its manifestations?
DECISION 2: How can I understand the aspects of ADHD that might be new to the doctor?
DECISION 3: How can I improve the odds of an accurate ADHD evaluation for my child?
DECISION 4: How can I find a professional to diagnose and treat my child’s ADHD?
DECISION 5: What should a thorough evaluation for pediatric ADHD include and exclude?
DECISION 6: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation screens for psychiatric comorbidities?
> DECISION 7: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation considers look-alike comorbidities?
DECISION 8: Should my child be screened for the sleep, eating, and other disorders?

COMORBIDITIES: What co-existing conditions should my child’s doctor consider when evaluating for ADHD?

A: ADHD rarely exists in isolation. Clinicians must properly screen for and address ADHD and its comorbidities… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

DEPRESSION: What distinguishes ADHD from depression in children?

A: Clinical depression is more than just the blues. It’s a serious illness, and it affects more young people than parents realize… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

ANXIETY: What distinguishes ADHD from anxiety in children?

A: Some anxiety disorders can be hard to spot in children because symptoms include internal thoughts and feelings that don’t always… | Keep reading on WebMD »

OCD: What distinguishes ADHD from OCD in children?

A: Obsessive-compulsive disorder is marked by repetitive thoughts or fears (obsessions) that may turn into repetitive behaviors… | Keep reading on WebMD »

BIPOLAR: What distinguishes ADHD from bipolar disorder in children?

A: Medical science is learning more about bipolar disorder in children and teens. But the condition is still difficult to diagnose. That’s especially true for teenagers in whom irritability and moodiness… | Keep reading on WebMD »

DMDD: What are the symptoms of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder in children?

A: DMDD causes children to experience unstable emotions they cannot regulate, including extreme outbursts of anger, leading to temper tantrums. These outbursts often occur in response to… | Keep reading on WebMD »

FIRST-PERSON: “How I Calmed My Daughter’s Anxiety Attack”

“It’s critical that you accept the attack as real. The dizziness, sweating, chest pain, racing heart — all of it is real. Don’t tell her that it’s just in her head or that she’s OK. So what can you do? Start by holding her close.” | Keep reading on ADDitude »

RELATED RESOURCES

SYMPTOM TEST: Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Children

Every child worries sometimes — about monsters or tests or new experiences. A child with anxiety feels anxious about nearly everything. | Take the self-test on ADDitude »

SYMPTOM TEST: Depression in Children

Does your child say they’re ‘too tired’ to do activities they used to love? Have trouble making even simple decisions? | Take the self-test on ADDitude »

8-Part Guide to ADHD Diagnosis in Children, from WebMD x ADDitude:

DECISION 1: How can I better understand ADHD, its causes, and its manifestations?
DECISION 2: How can I understand the aspects of ADHD that might be new to the doctor?
DECISION 3: How can I improve the odds of an accurate ADHD evaluation for my child?
DECISION 4: How can I find a professional to diagnose and treat my child’s ADHD?
DECISION 5: What should a thorough evaluation for pediatric ADHD include and exclude?
> DECISION 6: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation screens for psychiatric comorbidities?
DECISION 7: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation considers look-alike comorbidities?
DECISION 8: Should my child be screened for the sleep, eating, and other disorders?

EVALUATIONS: What is the step-by-step ADHD evaluation process for children?

A: Diagnosing ADHD is a process that takes several steps and involves gathering information from multiple sources. You, your child… | Keep reading on WebMD »

EARLY DIAGNOSIS: Can my child be evaluated for ADHD as early as preschool?

A: Most children aren’t checked for ADHD until they’re school age, but kids as young as 4 can be diagnosed, according to guidelines… | Keep reading on WebMD »

TESTS: What tests are used to diagnose ADHD in children?

A: There’s no single test to diagnose ADHD. Instead, doctors rely on several things, including interviews with the parents, relatives, teachers, or other adults, questionnaires or rating scales… | Keep reading on WebMD »

ONLINE CARE: Can my child get diagnosed with ADHD via a telehealth appointment?

A: While much of the process can be done online, medication fulfillment, physical exams, and cognitive or educational testing may… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS: How can I be sure my child’s symptoms don’t point to another condition?

A: Many other disorders have the same, or similar, symptoms as ADHD, so it’s important for your doctor to look for all possibilities before coming to a conclusion… | Keep reading on WebMD »

TIMELINE: How long will it take to get my child evaluated for and diagnosed with ADHD?

A: An initial consultation with the patient (and parents) could range from 45 minutes to two hours or more. You should also expect to fill out questionnaires, checklists… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

FIRST-PERSON: “How a Diagnosis Unlocked My Son’s Best Self”

“Gone was my happy, carefree boy who would sing in his room and laugh at our cats. In his place was a struggling child who could not focus on schoolwork, who had trouble getting along with other kids, and whose mishaps were bleeding him dry.” | Keep reading on ADDitude »

RELATED RESOURCES

FREE DOWNLOAD: ADHD Diagnosis Guide

There is no definitive way to check for ADHD. No blood test or X-ray. There is, however, a logical set of steps that medical professionals should take. | Download now on ADDitude »

FREE DOWNLOAD: Common ADHD Diagnosis Mistakes

Doctors sometimes diagnose ADHD too quickly. Here’s what you need to know to avoid common mistakes. | Download now on ADDitude »

8-Part Guide to ADHD Diagnosis in Children, from WebMD x ADDitude:

DECISION 1: How can I better understand ADHD, its causes, and its manifestations?
DECISION 2: How can I understand the aspects of ADHD that might be new to the doctor?
DECISION 3: How can I improve the odds of an accurate ADHD evaluation for my child?
DECISION 4: How can I find a professional to diagnose and treat my child’s ADHD?
> DECISION 5: What should a thorough evaluation for pediatric ADHD include and exclude?
DECISION 6: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation screens for psychiatric comorbidities?
DECISION 7: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation considers look-alike comorbidities?
DECISION 8: Should my child be screened for the sleep, eating, and other disorders?

HEALTH CARE TEAM: What types of providers should be on my child’s ADHD health care team?

A: If your child has ADHD symptoms, contact their doctor or pediatrician as a first step. They should already have a strong relationship with your family… | Keep reading on WebMD »

FINDING A DOC: How can I choose the best health care professional(s) to manage my child’s ADHD?

A: When you find out your child has ADHD, you can turn to a team of pros who can get them the right treatment. Each one plays a different role… | Keep reading on WebMD »

ASSESSING PROFESSIONALS:  What questions should I ask in evaluating health care providers to diagnose my child’s ADHD?

A: How many of your pediatric patients have ADHD? How do you evaluate the symptoms of ADHD in children?… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

SPECIALISTS: What steps should I follow to find an ADHD specialist for my child?

A: If your pediatrician dismisses your worries, you should request a referral to a specialist in child behavior and development… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

THE RIGHT FIT: How can I tell if a doctor is a good fit for our family?

A: What qualities in a health care provider are important to you? The following is a list of traits that people most often mention when asked what they want from a health care professional… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

FIRST QUESTIONS: How can I best prepare for my child’s ADHD evaluation?

A: Strong, engaged advocacy will help ensure the best outcomes for your child. Knowing the right questions to ask yourself and other professionals before your child’s ADHD evaluation will… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

FIRST-PERSON: “7 Therapists — and Counting”

“And then there were seven. Later this week, we’ll be meeting Dr. P, a cognitive behavioral therapist recommended by ‘the team.’ And I’ll do my best to stop judging who we are, who we’ve become, and how we got here.” | Keep reading on ADDitude »

RELATED RESOURCES

FREE DOWNLOAD: Choosing the Right Professional to Treat ADHD

Use this comparison chart to help you understand the benefits and drawbacks of each option. | Download now on ADDitude »

EXPERT WEBINAR: Forming a Cross-Functional Care Team

Expert webinar with Leslie F. Graham, MSW, Douglas Russell, M.D., and Sheryl Morelli, M.D. | Listen now on ADDitude »

8-Part Guide to ADHD Diagnosis in Children, from WebMD x ADDitude:

DECISION 1: How can I better understand ADHD, its causes, and its manifestations?
DECISION 2: How can I understand the aspects of ADHD that might be new to the doctor?
DECISION 3: How can I improve the odds of an accurate ADHD evaluation for my child?
> DECISION 4: How can I find a professional to diagnose and treat my child’s ADHD?
DECISION 5: What should a thorough evaluation for pediatric ADHD include and exclude?
DECISION 6: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation screens for psychiatric comorbidities?
DECISION 7: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation considers look-alike comorbidities?
DECISION 8: Should my child be screened for the sleep, eating, and other disorders?

GENDER: Why is ADHD so often missed or misdiagnosed in girls?

A: Hyperactivity and impulsivity are two of the most well-known symptoms of ADHD. But they aren’t as common with girls… | Keep reading on WebMD »

DIAGNOSING GIRLS: How can parents and doctors better recognize signs of ADHD in girls?

A: Girls with inattention can compensate in the early school years, especially if they’re bright. But the strategies often fail when they get to middle school, which demands more planning… | Keep reading on WebMD »

AGE-BY-AGE: How might my child’s ADHD symptoms change as they age?

A: In the teen years, hyperactivity tends to improve. But your child may feel restless and be uncomfortable sitting for long periods. And an impulsive teen with ADHD might do risky things… | Keep reading on WebMD »

TEENS: What do I need to understand about ADHD in adolescence?

A: Teens with ADHD face an extra set of challenges: puberty aggravates their symptoms, academics tax their EFs, and… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

ADHD & RACE: How can I combat disparities in ADHD diagnosis and treatment for children of color?

A: After hundreds of years of racialized history, trust won’t come overnight, but it can be improved by diversifying educational and medical communities… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

BEYOND TANTRUMS: Can early signs of emotional dysregulation suggest ADHD in my child?

A: The babies who may be at risk for ADHD are the ones who cry constantly and have trouble self-soothing; who are angry, fussy, and difficult to control; who have… | Keep reading on ADDitude »
FIRST-PERSON: “The Model Minority Myth Left No Room for My ADHD”
“Neurological differences are not talked about in my culture. They are taboo. This meant I was to tell nobody about my diagnosis, because even with that validation, I would face judgement and isolation.” | Keep reading on ADDitude »

RELATED RESOURCES

SYMPTOM TEST: Symptoms in Teen Girls

Typical symptoms of ADHD in girls — daydreaming, non-stop talking, tardiness — are too often shrugged off. | Take the self-test on ADDitude »

EXPERT WEBINAR: The Teen Years with ADHD

Expert webinar with Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D. | Listen now on ADDitude »

8-Part Guide to ADHD Diagnosis in Children, from WebMD x ADDitude:

DECISION 1: How can I better understand ADHD, its causes, and its manifestations?
DECISION 2: How can I understand the aspects of ADHD that might be new to the doctor?
> DECISION 3: How can I improve the odds of an accurate ADHD evaluation for my child?
DECISION 4: How can I find a professional to diagnose and treat my child’s ADHD?
DECISION 5: What should a thorough evaluation for pediatric ADHD include and exclude?
DECISION 6: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation screens for psychiatric comorbidities?
DECISION 7: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation considers look-alike comorbidities?
DECISION 8: Should my child be screened for the sleep, eating, and other disorders?

RSD: Is rejection sensitive dysphoria a symptom of ADHD?

A: Rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) is not a medical diagnosis, but a way of describing certain symptoms associated with ADHD… | Keep reading on WebMD »

EMOTIONS: Is emotional dysregulation a symptom of ADHD?

A: Emotional dysregulation is a term used to describe an emotional response that is poorly regulated and does not fall within… | Keep reading on WebMD »

SUBTLE SYMPTOMS: What symptoms of ADHD are often missed by educators, professionals, and even parents?

A: It’s not easy to know if your child has ADHD. As a parent, it may be less about the symptoms shouting ADHD, and more about feeling something’s not right. Your kid is struggling, but you don’t know why… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

EARLY YEARS: How does ADHD manifest in toddlers?

A: Emotional dysregulation often looks like excess emotion. Neurotypical toddlers typically experience up to three tantrums a week. Toddlers with ADHD, on the other hand… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

SOCIAL SKILLS: What social executive function deficits may suggest ADHD in my child?

A: Children and teens with ADHD tend to have a hard time with skills that underlie social interactions, such as perspective-taking, situational awareness… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

MISDIAGNOSIS: What symptoms of ADHD are my child’s doctor most likely to miss or misread?

A: Some children resort to defiant behavior to cover up anxiety, and other children who appear “defiant” are actually just impulsive. This is another case where it’s important for doctors to tease out the root cause… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

FIRST-PERSON: “When the First Signs of My Child’s ADHD Were Revealed”

“I asked our son why he didn’t like to wash his hair. ‘It takes too long and it’s boring,’ he told me. ‘Yeah, it is kind of boring,’ I replied. That’s when we decided to have him evaluated for ADHD. (I have ADHD myself, and told him he might have inherited mommy’s ‘silly brain.’)” | Keep reading on ADDitude »

RELATED RESOURCES

SYMPTOM TEST: Working Memory Deficits

A working memory deficit could explain a child’s difficulty with reading retention or mental math. | Take the self-test on ADDitude »

SYMPTOM TEST: Executive Function Deficit

Does your child have trouble getting started or struggle with problem-solving? | Take the self-test on ADDitude »

8-Part Guide to ADHD Diagnosis in Children, from WebMD x ADDitude:

DECISION 1: How can I better understand ADHD, its causes, and its manifestations?
> DECISION 2: How can I understand the aspects of ADHD that might be new to the doctor?
DECISION 3: How can I improve the odds of an accurate ADHD evaluation for my child?
DECISION 4: How can I find a professional to diagnose and treat my child’s ADHD?
DECISION 5: What should a thorough evaluation for pediatric ADHD include and exclude?
DECISION 6: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation screens for psychiatric comorbidities?
DECISION 7: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation considers look-alike comorbidities?
DECISION 8: Should my child be screened for the sleep, eating, and other disorders?

DEFINITION: What is today’s medical understanding of ADHD?

A: ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a brain disorder that affects how you pay attention and control your behavior. It happens in children and teens and can continue into adulthood… | Keep reading on WebMD »

SYMPTOMS: How can I tell if my child is showing signs and symptoms of ADHD?

A: The symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — or ADHD — vary from person to person, but consist of some combination of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity… | Keep reading on WebMD »

SUBTYPES: What are the key differences between inattentive, hyperactive, and combined-type ADHD in children?

A: Signs of hyperactivity include squirming, fidgeting, tapping, talking, and constant movement, especially in situations where it’s not appropriate. Signs of… | Keep reading on WebMD »

INATTENTIVE: Why do doctors and patients often misunderstand inattentive ADHD?

A: Formerly called ADD, inattentive ADHD is characterized by disorganization, a lack of focus, poor time management… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

ADHD IN TODDLERS: How young is too young for ADHD?

A: Though no clinical guidelines exist for diagnosing ADHD in children under the age of 4, a growing number of studies suggest that ADHD symptoms first show up during these early years… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

FIRST-PERSON: “Our Long and Winding Trek to the Summit”

“I am thankful that we got a fairly early and accurate diagnosis for our kid. It turned around his poor self-esteem and helped him understand that he’s not damaged; he’s just neurodevelopmentally unique.” | Keep reading on ADDitude »

“Dear Parent of a Newly Diagnosed Kid”

“It’s OK to feel mad. It’s OK to feel it’s not fair that the universe handed this diagnosis to your kid. Your kid is hard. You can love your kid to the moon and back and still look at him and think, you are hard.” | Keep reading on ADDitude »

RELATED RESOURCES

SYMPTOM TEST: ADHD in Children

Could your child’s distractibility, blurting, and difficulty remaining seated be due to ADHD? | Take the self-test on ADDitude »

SYMPTOM TEST: Inattentive ADHD in Children

Symptoms can show up as missing instructions, forgetfulness, and difficulty sustaining attention. | Take the self-test on ADDitude »

8-Part Guide to ADHD Diagnosis in Children, from WebMD x ADDitude:

> DECISION 1: How can I better understand ADHD, its causes, and its manifestations?
DECISION 2: How can I understand the aspects of ADHD that might be new to the doctor?
DECISION 3: How can I improve the odds of an accurate ADHD evaluation for my child?
DECISION 4: How can I find a professional to diagnose and treat my child’s ADHD?
DECISION 5: What should a thorough evaluation for pediatric ADHD include and exclude?
DECISION 6: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation screens for psychiatric comorbidities?
DECISION 7: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation considers look-alike comorbidities?
DECISION 8: Should my child be screened for the sleep, eating, and other disorders?

The scene is raw, heart-wrenching, and relatable to parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) — including Emmy-nominated executive producer Nancy Armstrong, who drew inspiration for the film from raising her children with ADHD.

The Disruptors follows five households affected by ADHD, throwing into plain view the daily realities of parenting neurodivergent children. Viewers meet Emily, a mother who was “super-offended” when a teacher suggested that her son might have ADHD, and Briana, who recognized ADHD symptoms in her six-year-old son after receiving her own ADHD diagnosis.

[Self-Test: Does My Child Have ADHD? Symptom Test for Kids]

“ADHD is the number one searched term on the Internet,” says Dale Archer, M.D., author of The ADHD Advantage: What You Thought Was a Diagnosis May Be Your Greatest Strength(#CommissionsEarned), but misinformation prevails. The Disruptors dispels many ADHD misconceptions and explains the brain chemistry of ADHD through easy-to-understand animated segments and interviews with ADHD experts and ADDitude contributors like Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D.; Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D.; Ellen Littman, Ph.D.; Edward (Ned) Hallowell, M.D.; and others.

But this is not a doom-and-gloom ADHD documentary. The film successfully strikes a balance between hardship and hope by carefully reframing ADHD symptoms as “superpowers.” (For example, Hallowell says, “Impulsivity done right is creativity” and “Distractibility is curiosity.”)

The Disrupters highlights some of the most creative innovators of our time who had ADHD symptoms (e.g., Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Andrew Carnegie). Snippets of interviews with celebrities, athletes, and business owners with ADHD — including Paris Hilton, Scott Kelly (former NASA Astronaut), Howie Mandel, David Neeleman (JetBlue and Breeze Airways founder), Michelle Carter (three-time Olympian), and NFL legend Terry Bradshaw — demonstrate how real-life role models overcame ADHD-related adversity to achieve success.

However, the biggest takeaway from the film is this: the importance of unconditional love. “The way forward for families with ADHD is don’t lose sight of the relationship,” Barkley says. “Stop longing for the child you thought you wanted when you were pregnant and accept the child you have. Take it as your mission as their shepherd to help them develop those talents and focus on your relationship with them over everything else because that will sustain them and you.”

The Disruptors is available on iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and Google Play.

The Disruptors ADHD Documentary: Next Steps

• Free Download: Guide to Debunking Annoying ADHD Myths
• Read: What Is ADHD? Symptoms Explained
• Watch: “Is ADHD Real?”7 Myths (and Truths) About ADHD

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

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COVID-19 has disproportionately damaged the lives and behaviors of children with ADHD, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Attention Disorders.¹ Though children with ADHD are no more likely than their peers to test positive for COVID-19, they are more likely to experience pandemic-related sleep problems, family conflict, fear of infection, and academic setbacks, the research found.

A groundbreaking study on the broader mental health implications of the pandemic, the research examined 620 youth with ADHD and 614 individually matched controls who participated in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study to determine their risk for COVID-19 and their differing experiences with pandemic life, among other factors.

Though their caregivers reported observing significantly more COVID-19 symptoms, children with ADHD were no more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than were children without the disorder.  When compared to controls, children with ADHD were more likely to break rules related to COVID-19 restrictions and to experience the following:

• greater sleep problems
• greater fear of infection
• increased family conflict
• trouble with remote learning 
• inadequate preparation for the subsequent school year

No significant differences were found between the two groups regarding using screens, engaging in physical exercise, and following a daily schedule.

The authors of the study found that children with ADHD were less responsive to protective environmental variables like parental monitoring and school engagement, and they concluded that students with ADHD may need more specialized support during in-person school. Children with ADHD may also benefit from services that promote greater family-school collaboration, as well as school interventions during later stages of the pandemic and in the transition to post-pandemic functioning.

¹Rosenthal E, Franklin-Gillette S, Jung HJ, et al. Impact of COVID-19 on Youth With ADHD: Predictors and Moderators of Response to Pandemic Restrictions on Daily Life. Journal of Attention Disorders. December 2021. doi:10.1177/10870547211063641

“Daydreamer”

“Forgetful”

“Unmotivated”

“Lazy”

Take your pick — the misconstrued labels for children with inattentive ADHD (once called ADD) are as vast and varied as the symptoms they manifest. Often misunderstood — or worse, neglected — at school, children with ADHD face unique challenges complicated by outdated ADHD stereotypes.

Here, ADDitude readers share the biggest challenges their children with inattentive ADHD face at school and home. What struggles does your child with predominantly inattentive ADHD encounter? Share your stories in the Comments section below.

“Mind-wandering is a challenge for my daughter when she needs to complete schoolwork, especially reading. She has a hard time focusing and will fixate on sounds around her (ticking clock, hallway conversation, foot-tapping classmate, etc.) rather than the one sound she needs to hear: Her teacher’s voice. However, her inattentiveness and mind-wandering are a total asset when she’s drawing, writing, or creating because it allows her to be fluid, make connections, and find flow.” — Anonymous

“Often our 5th grader doesn’t hear us, and it can be very frustrating. He is very gifted, but the inattentiveness has caught up to him. I see him wrapping his computer cord around his hand or doodling absentmindedly instead of completing his assignments.” — Anonymous

“The biggest challenge is my 16-year-old daughter’s room. I’m tempted to call it her ‘swamp’ because it is absolutely a mess of everything you can imagine — dirty clothes, clean clothes, wet bath towels, food and drink containers, jewelry, school supplies, make-up, unfinished crafts, papers that should have been signed and returned to school — scattered on the floor. We’ve tried everything from kindly reminding her to tidy up her room to doing it ourselves when we can’t take it anymore. It’s really exhausting and sucks so much energy from us.” — Anonymous

[Take This Test: Could Your Child Have ADD?]

“My son misses verbal instructions at school, or if he hears them, he doesn’t remember them. He doesn’t want to call attention to himself by writing them down.” — Anonymous

“The biggest challenge for my daughter is accessing appropriate support at school. My daughter is quiet and intelligent so teachers assume she doesn’t need support. They do not see the hours of additional study and near panic and frustration that happens at home. The amount of time she spends on organizing and building routines so she can manage are mind-blowing. It is so difficult to watch her needlessly struggle. Also, her budding independence means she wants no interference from her parents. This desire for independence is mismatched with her not-yet-there social, money, and time-management skills. I see students with ‘extra energy’ receive a lot of attention and help, and the inattentive kids — especially girls — are left with messages that they are ‘lazy,’ ‘unmotivated,’ and just need to ‘try harder’.” — Anonymous

“My son’s bedroom, locker, and backpack all look like the aftermath of a tornado. I don’t usually make a big deal about it, but it affects his ability to keep track of schoolwork, 4H club projects, etc. His executive functioning skills are much weaker than his peers, and he rarely remembers any assignments. Middle school has been an incredibly challenging transition for him. He thrived in elementary school. Now his grades are in the 60s instead of 80s and 90s. He is bright, but he is lost.” — Anonymous

“Remembering important school meetings and not putting projects off until the night before they are due seems nearly impossible for my teen! They are very smart, but frequently lose points on work for turning it in late, and as a parent with the same issues, I find it difficult to remember for them (or to call them out) when I forget, too.” — Anonymous

[Download This: Your Free In-Depth Guide to Inattentive ADHD?]

“My daughter struggles to complete a task. Even when we ask her to do one job, like, put on socks, it takes ages, and she usually returns with a couple of toys — and sometimes the socks. It also takes her a long time to sit and eat a meal. The table could be clear of all distracting items, and she will think of something she ‘has to do’ and then leaves the table forgetting about her food.” — Anonymous

“’What am I supposed to do right now?’ I ask my son every hour, as it is impossible for him to complete simple tasks such as brushing his teeth or clearing the kitchen table after we eat. We’ll sit down for dinner, and despite multiple reminders, my son is off elsewhere, lost doing something completely irrelevant. At school, staying on task is impossible and worsens if the task is boring for him, even though he can do it with ease. My younger one is better organized and over enthusiastic with every task, which in turn increases sibling rivalry and makes things worse for us.” — Anonymous

“Starting and completing tasks: I can’t focus on my own tasks because I’m busy monitoring hers.” — Anonymous

“My son is verbally advanced by a couple years, and his inattention is most obvious in his conversations. He can bounce between a dozen topics a minute recalling what he’s read, taught, or heard. It distracts him from getting ready in the mornings, so we gave him a checklist. I still verbally remind him and ask ‘is the list done?’ At least he doesn’t need reminders at each step.” — Anonymous

“My son hates, hates, hates school. Although he’s in an accelerated program, he struggles with writing and timed tests. His teacher seems unwilling or unable to make accommodations for him, citing a lack of ‘personal responsibility’ and the need for a ‘growth mindset.’ At home, he struggles with pretty intense emotional dysregulation, (particularly stemming from his frustration at being asked to perform onerous tasks such as homework and chores).” — Anonymous

“Teachers don’t notice that a student has lost focus. Eye contact and even body language may give the impression of focus, yet the student is not listening. Their thoughts are elsewhere. This is equally as stressful to the students because they know they were present, and therefore, think they just forgot what was taught not realizing they had intermittent moments of inattentiveness. An inattentive ADHD student is often neglected, and IEP classroom accommodations are not as easily put into play as they are for a student with hyperactive ADHD. A student who is actively disruptive receives nearly immediate re-direction. This is not the case for the inattentive student. As a parent of both inattentive and hyperactive children with ADHD, it is more difficult to teach the inattentive children strategies than the hyperactive one.” — Anonymous

“Test taking is a challenge. He is brilliant orally, but he can’t concentrate on written exams.” — Anonymous

“My 10-year-old daughter assumes her homework ‘won’t take long.’ She does not plan the appropriate amount of time for it and pushes back every step of the way.” — Anonymous

“Teachers take the inattention personally and then are overly punitive. At home, before we understood that she couldn’t process more than one task at a time we would get frustrated. Now we know to only ask her to do one thing at a time.” — Anonymous

“My son struggles keeping up with class discussions, and he needs instructions repeated and reminders to complete routine activities.” — Anonymous

“Two of my children have predominantly inattentive ADHD. Both tend to lack follow through. While my daughter writes things down and uses planners, my son does not — so I always need to remind him. But with my predominantly inattentive ADHD, it’s hard to remember to remind him. When he’s fully engaged, he gets the job done, often going above and beyond what was required. The challenge is getting him to that point of engagement. My daughter worries that she’ll ‘forget something’ or and won’t get things done ‘perfectly.’ This perfectionism is both a blessing and a curse. It’s a blessing because she’s developed coping strategies, and she’s more self-contained and self-motivated because of it, but it turns simple things into jousting matches with her psyche. Many times, she’s afraid to start something because she fears she’ll fail at it, or worries that she’ll miss an important bit of information. Then she spends a good amount of time spinning her wheels before getting started.” — Anonymous

Inattentive ADHD in Children: Next Steps

• Self-Test: The ADHD Symptom Test for Girls
• Read This: “Inattentive ADHD, According to a 12-Year-Old Boy”
• Read This: Are You Listening? What Inattentive ADHD Looks Like — And Responds To

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.