Inattentive ADHD Symptom Test for Children

After I’ve given my child instructions with several steps, he can complete the first step or two but then forgets what comes next.

My child seems like she is in a world of her own. She stares into space and daydreams.

When I talk to my child, she seems as if she isn’t paying attention. She may stare off into space while I am talking and then pause for a long time before answering me.

My child procrastinates starting any long-term school projects and only works on projects when prompted. Even then, he will only work for a short time before being distracted.

My child has trouble making friends. Other children say he seems disinterested in anyone else and mostly stays to himself.

My child does well on short school assignments, such as worksheets, but struggles to complete longer assignments, such as essays. When working on essays and other work that requires sustained attention, he has to be redirected back to the task several times.

My child’s teacher has complained that she is defiant because she doesn’t seem to listen when the teacher is talking or doesn’t remember steps after they have been explained.

My child is easily distracted. For example, when getting ready for school in the morning she may stop to look at something, play with a toy, or watch television — and forget what she is supposed to be doing to get out the door on time.

When playing with toys, my child changes games quickly, moving from one thing to another every few minutes. Other times, he may get lost in an activity or a game for hours if it piques his interest.

My child misses important information in school because he is distracted by something interesting outside the window or activity in the hallway.

My child has trouble managing time. For example, he inaccurately guesses how long a task is going to take, even if he has completed the task before.

My child doesn’t complete homework assignments because she forgets to bring home needed supplies, loses worksheets, or forgets to write down the assignment in detail.

My child has difficulty completing chores because he misses steps, forgets instructions, or breaks items because he is rushing or being careless.

My child seems unmotivated and procrastinates when she should be doing chores, homework, and schoolwork. Her teacher refers to her as an underachiever and implores her to “try harder.”

My child’s room is a mess, with clothes, papers, and toys scattered everywhere. Sometimes it is hard to find the floor. The teacher says his desk looks like a jumble of papers.