Identifying Special Needs

Also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Within this category, there are 2 different signs

For symptoms with inattention, nine associated behaviours are described:

• Neglecting to pay attention to details or making casual errors in schoolwork, job, or other activities
• Maintaining focus in tasks or leisure activities
• When spoken to directly, he seems unwilling to listen.
• Ignoring directions and neglecting to complete schoolwork, housework, or workplace tasks (not due to oppositional behavior or a lack to grasp instructions)
• difficulty organizing tasks and activities
• avoiding, disliking, or being reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework)
• losing things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g., toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools)
• being easily distracted by extraneous stimuli

For the symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity, the following behaviours are described:

• fidgeting with hands or feet or squirming in seat
• leaving their seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected
• running around or climbing excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate (in adolescents or adults, may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness)
• difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly
• being ‘on the go’ or often acting as if ‘driven by a motor’
• talking excessively
• blurting out answers before questions have been completed
• difficulty awaiting turn
• interrupting or intruding on others (e.g., butting into conversations or games)

A short list of autism symptoms is as follows:

• lack of babbling or pointing by age one
• lack of any single words by 16 months age
• lack of response to name being called
• poor eye contact
• excessive need for quiet and order
• lack of smiling or responsiveness to others

Symptoms of autism for toddler-aged children or older include the following:

• weakness in making friends or relating to peers
• lack of ability to engage in conversation
• repetitive actions
• repetitive or strange language patterns
• obsession-like preoccupation with objects or conversational subjects

Parents are often concern, whether their child shows signs of improvement in their knowledge and education. But sometimes, they noticed that their child might be lagging behind the standard curriculum. For their own peace of mind, they would bring their child to the doctor, for a proper diagnose of their child’s learning standards.