Attention

They are as follows:

 * __Sustained Attention__ – This attention type enables a student to stay on a task for a long period of time. The attention of the student in this case does not move away from the task.
 * __Selective Attention__ – This attention type enables a student to stay on task even when a distraction is present.
 * __Divided Attention__ – This attention type allows a student to handle two or more tasks at one time. It lets the student pay attention to different tasks even as he or her multi-tasks.

In order to identify a particular attention type from among the three different types of attention, it is suggested that you watch for a student’s inability to:
 * stay on a task for long periods of time,
 * ignore distractions, or
 * multi-task.



Children with ADHD are more likely to show:

 * normal milestones although sometimes with fine motor delays
 * a family history of ADHD, attention or behavioral problems
 * hyperactivity, when present, noted in preschool but decreases to restlessness as the child ages
 * impulsivity such as calling out, acting without thinking or excessive talking
 * difficulty with effortful attention, often more evident once in school
 * problems with “budgeting” of attention and may over-focus on favored activities
 * need for frequent prompts or reminders to start or complete routine tasks
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">problems across multiple situations but with variable severity
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">difficulty in group or independent work but does well one-on-one
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">impulsive, “careless” errors and inattention to detail across subjects
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">problems with listening comprehension or academic “gaps” due to inattention or “superficial grasp” of material
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">written expression problems are most common
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">report cards and tests show highly inconsistent grades across subjects
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|difficulty with organization] in and outside of school
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">tendency to “fade” or drift off during sustained tasks such as reading or chores
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">low frustration tolerance and lack of persistence unless highly engaged
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">better scores in testing than performance in the classroom or on homework
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">testing often shows deficits in “[|executive functions],” such as poor planning or problem-solving
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">social problems because of annoying behavior and conflict