Child who is easily distracted

Being highly focused and not easily diverted can present problems if the child is so tuned in to what he is doing that he is completely unaware of his environment.

For example, they may not hear a parent or a teacher calling their name. In this case, these children are not intentionally disobeying when they do not come when called; they simply did not notice the call.

It also may be difficult to persuade highly focused children to stop doing something or to get them to change their mind about something. Being unaware is a part of their temperament. Establish eye contact before you speak or place a hand gently on their arm or shoulder.

When talking to children who are at either end of this continuum, make sure you have their attention when you talk to them. Keep your words short and simple.

Learn to work together. Help them to understand the value of their uniqueness. Send messages to your children that help them to feel good about who they are, messages such as:. For more information about temperament, check out the following books.

Purchasing from Amazon. Facebook Linkedin. The Center for Parenting Education. A resource to help parents do the best job they can to raise their children. Understanding Temperament: Distractibility Temperament Matters Do you have children who seem to notice and respond to every sight and sound around them, including those that you had not noticed? What is Distractibility? Track your answers on the following scale from one to five: Do your children usually notice sights and sounds that others do not?

Do things easily divert them when they set out to do chores? To make an accurate diagnosis, a clinician should collect information from several people who have observed your child, including you, other caregivers, and teachers.

Parents and teachers should be asked to fill out a rating scale, to capture an accurate assessment of the frequency of symptoms. The behavior has to continue over an extended period, and be observed in more than one setting-both at home and at school, for instance.

And clinicians should carefully rule out other possible reasons for his behavior. This suggests that that immaturity may also be mistaken for ADHD. Get this as a PDF. Enter email to download and get news and resources in your inbox. Share this on social. What other conditions cause problems with attention? How can I make sure my child gets the right diagnosis? Quick Read. Full Article. Here is a checklist of some of the other issues that may make a child struggle to pay attention in school: Anxiety.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Was this article helpful? Explore Popular Topics. Behavior Problems. Learning Disorders. View More Topics. This may lead to low self-esteem, depression, oppositional behavior, school failure, risk-taking behavior, or family conflict. ADHD can improve when kids get treatment, eat healthy food, get enough sleep and exercise, and have supportive parents who know how to respond to ADHD. Reviewed by: Shirin Hasan, MD.

Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. Kids who are inattentive easily distracted have trouble focusing their attention, concentrating, and staying on task. They may not listen well to directions, may miss important details, and may not finish what they start. They may daydream or dawdle too much. They may seem absent-minded or forgetful, and lose track of their things. Kids who are hyperactive are fidgety, restless, and easily bored.

They may have trouble sitting still, or staying quiet when needed. They may rush through things and make careless mistakes. They may climb, jump, or roughhouse when they shouldn't. Without meaning to, they may act in ways that disrupt others. Kids who are impulsive act too quickly before thinking.

They often interrupt, might push or grab, and find it hard to wait. They may do things without asking for permission, take things that aren't theirs, or act in ways that are risky. They may have emotional reactions that seem too intense for the situation.

ADHD is not caused by too much screen time, poor parenting, or eating too much sugar. After gettng this information, doctors diagnose ADHD if it's clear that: A child's trouble with paying attention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity go beyond what's usual for their age.

The behaviors have been going on since the child was young. The behaviors affect the child at school and at home. A health check shows that another health or learning issue isn't causing the problems. The doctor can refer you to a child psychologist or psychiatrist, if needed.