Inattentive Type of ADHD

Children diagnosed with the Predominantly Inattentive type of ADHD have trouble focusing on any one thing and may get bored with a task after only a few minutes. However, if they are doing something they really enjoy, they usually have no trouble paying attention. But focusing deliberate, conscious attention to organizing and completing a task or learning something new is difficult.

Homework is particularly hard for these children. They will forget to write down an assignment, or leave it at school. They will forget to bring a book home, or bring the wrong one. The homework, if finally finished, will be full of mistakes. It is often accompanied by frustration for the child and their parents.

Inattentive children are rarely impulsive or hyperactive, but have a significant problem paying attention. They often appear to be daydreaming, “spacey,” easily confused, slow moving, and lethargic. They may process information more slowly and less accurately than other children. This child has a hard time understanding what he or she is supposed to do when a teacher gives oral or even written instructions. Mistakes are frequent. The child may sit quietly and appear to be working, but in reality is not fully attending to or understanding the task and the instructions.

Children with this form of ADHD often get along better with other children than the more impulsive and hyperactive forms, as they may not have the same sorts of social problems common with the other forms of ADHD. Because of this, their problems with inattention are often overlooked.

Indicators of inattention:

• Not giving close attention to details or making careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other play activities.
• Becoming easily distracted by irrelevant sights and sounds
• Failing to pay attention to instructions and making careless mistakes, not finishing work, chores or duties
• Losing or forgetting things like toys, pencils, books, assignments and tools needed for a task
• Having trouble organizing activities, often skipping from one uncompleted activity to another
• Not appearing to listen when spoken to directly
• Avoiding or disliking things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time

Combined Type of ADHD

Children exhibiting hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention are considered to have the combined type of ADHD, which combines all of the above symptoms.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 9 Oct 2007