Read the passage and answer the following questions:

Reena is a 4-year-old girl. She has recently started going to school. Her school reports indicate that Reena is a naughty child and often disturbs others in class. She does not complete the task assigned to her and aimlessly roams around in class. She often has difficulty following instructions. Reena's new school teacher, after reading her previous reports, decides to observe her closely for a month. The teacher noticed that Reena enjoyed activities that required less reading and involved step-wise instructions. Her teacher helped Reena organise her bag as she would often forget to pack properly or would leave her things all over the class. Reena also had to be seated close to the teacher during circle time to avoid fidgeting and running around in the room or speaking out of turn. To keep Reena's interest in an activity, the teacher ensured frequent breaks and used puzzles that required scanning and canceling. With these small interventions, there was improvement in Reena's concentration, instruction following and waiting for her turn to speak. The teacher advised Reena's mother to follow the same strategies at home and get a psychoeducational assessment done to help Reena get the right intervention.

Based on Reena's behavoural symptoms what do you think her assessment reports would indicate?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

The correct answer is Option (4) → Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Reena’s behavioral symptoms as described in the passage include:

• Running around aimlessly

• Difficulty following instructions

• Fidgeting and speaking out of turn

• Poor organization (e.g., messy bag, forgetting items)

• Improved performance with structured tasks, step-by-step instructions, and frequent breaks

These are classic signs of ADHD, particularly the combined type, which includes both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): The two main features of ADHD are inattention and hyperactivity-/impulsivity. Children who are inattentive find it difficult to sustain mental effort during work or play. They have a hard time keeping their minds on any one thing or in following instructions. Common complaints are that the child does not listen, cannot concentrate, does not follow instructions, is disorganised, easily distracted, forgetful, does not finish assignments, and is quick to lose interest in boring activities. Children who are impulsive seem unable to control their immediate reactions or to think before they act. They find it difficult to wait or take turns, have difficulty resisting immediate temptations or delaying gratification. Minor mishaps such as knocking things over are common whereas more serious accidents and injuries can also occur. Children with ADHD are in constant motion. Sitting still through a lesson is impossible for them. The child may fidget, squirm, climb and run around the room aimlessly. Parents and teachers describe them as ‘driven by a motor’, always on the go, and talk incessantly.