What are the symptoms of AIDS?

There are three core symptoms of ADHD:

1. Hyperactivity
2. Impulsivity
3. Inattention.

There is a list of different behaviours within these groups.

To get a diagnosis of ADHD under either ICD-10 or DSM-IV-TR, symptoms must:

• Have been present for at least six months


• Have developed before the age of seven.


• Be greater than expected for the child’s age and intelligence (ie more than just being a busy toddler)


• Have a significant negative impact in at least two settings, for example at home, work, school. Sometimes parents don’t feel there’s a problem at home, either because they don’t have other children to compare the ADHD child to, or because they’ve adjusted to their child’s behaviour and are handling it well.

Your child must also not have another disorder, eg mood, anxiety or personality, that could cause the same symptoms.

In general, boys tend to show more symptoms of hyperactivity and girls tend to show more symptoms of inattention.

In adults, symptoms are very similar but the hyperactivity tends to become a feeling of restlessness, fidgeting, difficulty in relaxing or feeling ‘on edge’ all the time.