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Warning Signs Your Child Has ADD: Valencia Pediatrics: Pediatrics

If your child is having problems academically or socially at school, it might be that a condition is impeding their ability to progress. Attention deficit disorder, or ADD, is a common diagnosis in children that can make school and home environments more challenging.

Getting an early diagnosis helps children with ADD get the treatment they need early, so they can learn coping skills and find success. If your child has any of these warning signs of ADD, board-certified pediatrician Rainilda Valencia, MD, from Valencia Pediatrics in Victorville, California, recommends your child get a full ADD consultation to determine if they have ADD.

What is ADD?

ADD is a common condition that makes it more difficult for children to concentrate and focus. Unlike the related condition, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), these children don’t usually have clinically significant challenges with impulsivity or hyperactivity.

Symptoms of ADD can emerge at any age, but it’s most common to start observing them during the early school years, before age 12. Without intervention and treatment, children with ADD can have problems completing homework, learning, staying organized at home and school, and with social relationships.

Over time, children with ADD that haven’t received support are at higher risk for developing mental health problems like anxiety or depression.

Warning signs of ADD in children

According to Dr. Valencia, these are some of the most common symptoms that can indicate your child has undiagnosed ADD.

Procrastination

Your child with ADD might have difficulty completing tasks, like their homework assignments and assigned chores. They can have trouble prioritizing which tasks are most important, which makes it hard to get started and complete a to-do list.

Disorganization

These children often have desks, lockers, or bedrooms that appear disorganized. They can have trouble keeping track of their belongings and schedules, and might find themselves losing things and being late to class.

Inattention and lack of focus

A child who has ADD might seem like they aren’t interested in paying attention in class or other activities. They’re often prone to daydreaming during structured activities, being easily distracted by external stimuli, and seeming disinterested or bored.

Forgetfulness

Children with ADD often forget to complete or attend to tasks or activities because of their disorganization. This can lead to forgetting to turn in homework assignments, go to activities, and turning in schoolwork they haven’t finished.

Social skills challenges

Some children with ADD also have trouble with social interactions. This can include difficulty focusing on conversations, remaining on topic when they talk, and paying attention to social rules.

What to do if your child displays ADD symptoms

When your child has ADD symptoms, our team at Valencia Pediatrics can evaluate them at an ADD/ADHD consultation. At your child’s consultation, Dr. Valencia discusses your concerns, reviews your child’s full history, and observes and evaluates your child. She also ensures your child’s symptoms don’t have a different cause.

Once your child has been diagnosed with ADD, Dr. Valencia, with Micaela Marin-Tucker, PA-C, and Megan Reynolds, C-PNP, develops and implements a plan to treat your child’s symptoms. This plan can include talk and behavioral therapies, coordinating with your child’s school and activities, and medications.

With treatment, our team can help you and your child manage their ADD and succeed at school and at home. To schedule your child’s ADD consultation, call Valencia Pediatrics today.

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Missed Signs in Girls with ADHD

ADD in Children

Parenting a child with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) can feel like walking in the dark: You tiptoe around, unsure of what you will come up against. Sometimes you may say or do something to set off a small emotional explosion. It’s something you try to avoid since those can blow hot and strong. On the other side, however, is a kind, generous, and loving kid. It’s a condition of opposites and extremes.

At one time, we all assumed that the kid with ADHD was going to be the troublemaker in class, the kid who acted out, couldn’t sit still and had virtually no self-control. He’d be spewing words when the teacher was speaking, or be running around randomly with no attention to the rules when he was on the playground.

For many, when they think about ADHD, they think about inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. But not everyone with ADHD has those symptoms, and not all three at once. Even within those categories, the symptoms are varied, which is why ADD symptoms in children often go undiagnosed.

ADD Symptoms in Children: Inattention

Let’s take inattention. For some kids, inattentive ADHD means losing or forgetting things on a daily basis. It could also mean making mistakes, difficulty following directions, or choosing not to engage in activities that take too much time. It could mean that they don’t seem to be listening or it could show up in the “shiny object” way — where they get distracted easily and move on to something else without finishing what they’re doing. On the other hand, it could be that they are hyperfocused and won’t stop doing something until they are finished.

Many of those “symptoms” are common in most kids. It’s called childhood — the frontal lobe is not fully developed, kids get bored easily, and some don’t listen too well or do their homework. It doesn’t mean they have ADHD.

[Self-Test: Could Your Child Have ADHD?]

ADD Symptoms in Children: Hyperactivity

Hyperactivity is a little easier to spot: running around; leaving their seat when they’re not supposed to; talking excessively; fidgeting and squirming, and basically finding it hard to do anything at a leisurely pace. They are the ones who seem like they are always on the go—as if driven by a motor. But it can also just be the bouncing off a leg or the twirling of a ring.

ADD Symptoms in Children: Impulsivity

Someone with impulsive symptoms of ADHD can be moody, reckless, and impatient. He may find it difficult to wait his turn, intruding on or interrupting others’ activities or blurting out answers to a question before it’s completed. Or he can be accident-prone.

So 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 like something’s not right. Your kid is struggling, but you don’t know why. It can take years to identify the real issue.

It may start with tantrums when they are really young, but most parents expect tantrums. We don’t think it’s a health issue, more just an exhausting child issue. We get tired and irritable, which of course starts a cycle of stress, time-outs, blow-ups, and more tears. It may be painful and ugly, but it doesn’t scream ADHD — at least it didn’t to me. I didn’t know about the emotional piece of the disorder, and our daughter didn’t have the hyperactivity traits that are easier to identify.

[Get This Free Download: A Checklist of Common ADD Symptoms in Children]

ADD Symptoms in Children: Difficulty in School

In Kylie’s case, she wanted to read in kindergarten and was frustrated that she couldn’t. Then, when she knew how to read, she had a hard time spelling. None of this was particularly unusual, but I felt something wasn’t right. Then in third grade memorizing things was difficult for Kylie. I asked her teacher, who had been a special-ed teacher, to be on the lookout. She didn’t notice anything, and I figured she’d know better than I.

But by fourth grade, when Kylie was calling the same friend every single morning and still didn’t know her phone number, I was sure there was an issue. She struggled with multiplication tables. It wasn’t math in general, it was memorizing — state capitals, spelling, and historical dates. Give her a song, though — about math, history, or grammar — and she nailed it. “She’s just a hands-on learner,” explained the teachers.

In fifth grade we moved her to a private school because she said it was hard to learn where she was. There were too many kids and the teacher didn’t have control of them. She felt trapped, as if she were in jail. None of that instilled a love of learning, and her teachers continued to reassure me nothing was wrong. So we enrolled her in a new school and I assumed a private school would assess her and recognize signs of ADHD. I specifically asked her math teacher. Nothing.

ADD Symptoms in Children: Anxiety and Low Self Confidence

She did well academically, but she worked at it so damn hard. It wasn’t fair. She had hours and hours of homework, and she was 10 years old. The smallest assignment took hours. That frustrated her, which in turn led to a meltdown. I should have insisted on testing earlier. Finally, Kylie brought it up to me herself and I kicked into gear. But by then Kylie was having anxiety attacks and losing her self-confidence because of her struggles. So I was later to the party than I should have been.

We found an excellent neuropsychologist who could do the long, specific tests to determine what the issue was. It turns out it was ADHD, and the combination of having a hard time paying attention and having a memory issue was a terrible combination for rote memorization. Kylie was so relieved to find out there was a missed diagnosis, that she wasn’t crazy or stupid. She had a learning differential. She was off-the-charts high on many things, but low on memory processing.

ADD Symptoms in Children: Shame, Fear, and Self-Doubt

Once we realized this, we were able to decide how to approach it and to set her up for success. We also wanted her to know that it’s not a bad thing or anything to be ashamed of. Over the years the stigma has lessened a bit, but for many years, a diagnosis of ADHD emphasized only what was wrong with a person, often creating feelings of shame, fear, and self-doubt. Fear can hold a person back more than almost anything else.

With ADHD, you worry unnecessarily about certain things, about so many things—and not enough about things that warrant true worrying. Your fast-moving mind is easily distracted, alternating with an amazingly super-focused mind at other times, depending on your emotional state at the moment. You don’t suffer from a deficit of attention as much as a wandering of attention.

The physiological difference in the brain often means everything is intense and magnified. Kylie’s sensitive to what’s going on around her. Being in a noisy restaurant can feel like she’s in the front row of a Metallica concert. Bad news can set off anxiety or sadness. Her mind is constantly in gear, creating, designing, thinking, and never resting. Imagine what it would feel like to have a merry-go-round in your mind that never stops spinning. And while she’s very intelligent, it takes her more time to process some information, which makes homework difficult and slow. The impulsivity means emotions are hard to control and can run wild: She can be stubborn, impulsive and moody. But those very same traits have advantages: She is driven, passionate, funny and fiercely loyal.

ADD Symptoms in Children: Creativity and Intuition

Kylie is very creative — I actually have an Instagram hashtag for her: #Kyliecreations. She has an out-of-the-box way of thinking and she is amazingly intuitive. She is sensitive, which means she can get hurt easily, but it also means she is compassionate and generous. She can get to the heart of the matter quickly, piercing through when others are still trying to grasp the issue. She sees connections that others miss, and she’s persistent when others might give up.

As parents we want to give our kids confidence and make them feel good about who they are. So, for us, it was important that Kylie not define herself by her ADHD. It’s part of her, but it’s not who she is. As a mom, you need to focus much more of your time and attention on your child’s strengths, talents, and interests than on her ADHD and weaknesses. You help her use her strengths to work around the struggles. You try to be that beacon of calm during your child’s emotional storms — of which there are many. And you reorient toward the positive when the compass begins to move toward the negative.

Kylie works hard and continues to learn study and coping skills to manage and channel her ADHD. She’s engaging and willing to take some risks, pushing past setbacks with determination and resilience. She takes medication only when she needs to work and concentrate. Instead, she embraces every bit of her creativity, energy, curiosity, and spontaneity. Whatever she does, she does it with her whole heart and soul.

What could be more beautiful than that?

[Free Download: 25 Things to Love About ADHD]

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How a pensioner can apply for a pension supplement

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What additional payments are due to Moscow pensioners. Do I need to be a beneficiary in order to receive a supplement to a pension in Moscow. How many years do you need to live in Moscow in order to receive capital supplements to your pension. Can Muscovites with temporary registration receive additional pension payments

How to apply for a pension supplement for a non-working pensioner

What are the Moscow pension supplements for non-working pensioners. How to receive a regional social supplement to a pension. How many years do you need to live in Moscow in order to receive a capital supplement to pension
How to apply for a pension supplement for a working pensioner

Which of the working pensioners can receive a pension supplement. What is the size of the pension supplement for working pensioners in Moscow. What documents do working pensioners need to apply for a supplement to a pension
How to apply for additional monthly pension payments

How to get a pension supplement for participants in the Great Patriotic War, disabled servicemen, relatives of fallen servicemen, heroes of the Soviet Union, heroes of Russia, champions and prize-winners of the Olympic, Paralympic and Deaflympics and other beneficiaries

List of additional payments to pension

Social supplement up to the subsistence minimum

If the pension of a non-working pensioner is below the subsistence minimum, then it will be increased by additional payments. The federal cost of living is established every year by the budget law, this year for pensioners it is 10,022 rubles. Each region also sets its own living wage, it can be higher or lower than the federal one.

If the federal PM is higher than the regional one, then the pensioner will receive a federal surcharge, and if the PM in the region is higher, the regional one. You can get a surcharge upon application.

Monthly cash payment

This payment is due to veterans, disabled people, Chernobyl victims and other persons affected by radiation, former minor prisoners of fascism, Heroes of Russia and the Soviet Union, Heroes of Socialist Labor. It is assigned automatically.

In addition to it, they are provided with monthly compensation for a set of social services (drugs, sanatorium treatment, travel to and from the sanatorium, train trips). A pensioner can refuse a set of social services and take the cash equivalent.

Dependent's pension supplement

A pensioner can count on state support if he/she supports disabled persons, for example, minor children, full-time students, elderly relatives (parents, spouses, grandparents), disabled persons.

The supplement can be received for a maximum of three disabled family members, the total amount of the supplement in 2021 is 6044.48 rubles. One third of the fixed payment to the old-age insurance pension is paid for one family member.

"Rural" allowances

An increased pension is paid to citizens who have worked in rural areas for 30 years. The supplement to the pension is 25% of the fixed payment as part of the insurance pension, in 2021 its amount is 6044.48 rubles.

Starting January 1, 2022, "rural" supplements to pensions will be paid regardless of the pensioner's place of residence. At present, when a pensioner moves from a rural area to a city, the allowance is removed.

Pension recalculation after 80 years

Pensioners who have reached the age of 80 are entitled to an increased fixed payment to the old-age insurance pension, it increases by 100%.

A pensioner does not need to submit any applications to the FIU. The increase in the month of execution of 80 years is assigned automatically from the date of birth, and is paid from the next month.

Supplement to the pension for the "northern" experience

Citizens who worked in the regions of the Far North and areas equivalent to them, regardless of the place of current residence, can receive an increased pension. The conditions for the additional payment are an insurance period of at least 25 years for men and at least 20 years for women. You also need to work for at least 15 years in the regions of the Far North or at least 20 years in areas equivalent to them.

If the length of service is worked out in the regions of the Far North, the fixed payment to the insurance pension is increased by 50%, if in areas equated to them - by 30%.

Additional material support for outstanding achievements and special merits

Additional payment in an increased amount due to a special additional payment can be received by: Heroes of Russia and the Soviet Union, Heroes of Socialist Labor and Heroes of Labor of Russia, awarded orders, laureates of state prizes, Champions of the Olympic, Paralympic and Deaflympics.

Learn more