Signals your child might have ADHD and/or Learning Disorder(s)

We heard so many signals from teachers, friends and family that went unnoticed before my son, Luke, was diagnosed with ADHD in first grade three years ago. I wish almost every day that a teacher or the school staff had been more pointed that his behaviors were a sign of something more than being ill-prepared for school {or bad parenting, which was alleged on countless occasions}. I wish that I knew more about ADHD so that I may have realized they were signs of something more.

If you are hearing any of the following from your child's teacher or athletic coach or family members or the like, please take the time to get a formal evaluation for your child:

• He is not prepared for school yet.
• You didn't take him to preschool so he's behind all his classmates. 
• He doesn't understand the danger of scissors. 
• He can't write his name but everyone else can.
• He isn't sitting still during carpet time.
• He doesn't respect personal space.
• He isn't staying with the group and on task.
• His body movements are exaggerated and I'm afraid someone is going to get hurt. 
• He won't do his work unless someone stands right over top of him.
• He looses everything. 
• He chews on inappropriate objects like pencils.
• He blurts out answers.
• He can't follow verbal instructions.
• He can't do more than one task at a time.
• I have to tell him things over and over again. 
• He does things he knows are against the rules. 
• He feels bad after he has an outburst. 
• He refuses to do assignments sometimes, not just off task but refuses. 
• He is overly sensitive. 
• He gets too emotional.
• He is a lot less mature than his peers.
• He's behind grade level in one or more subjects.
• He doesn't have (m)any friends. 

There are so many more warning signs, these are just a few. For those of you with children with a diagnosis (or many), what were you hearing from others that were warning signs of ADHD and/or learning disabilities? Please share in the comments. Often people visit our site looking for answers to problems without yet being diagnosed -- by sharing warning signs, we help them know they're on the right track.

Penny Williams is the creator and editor of {a mom's view of ADHD}. She is also a freelance writer, real estate broker, wife, and mother of two living in Asheville, N.C. She has published several pieces in ADDitude Magazine, the #1 national publication dedicated to ADHD, and has also been quoted in Parenting.com's Family Health Guide on ADHD and The High Desert Pulse article, When Ritalin Works.  When not writing, she can usually be found behind a camera.