context: Children are naturally dreamers. It's not unusual to find them staring out a window, lost in thought. But if your child constantly has trouble focusing, there's a chance she might have the inattentive type of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Inattentive ADHD used to be called attention deficit disorder. Children who have it have a lot of difficulty paying attention. That's how you can tell it apart from two other types of the disorder. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHDmakes kids appear to be in constant motion. Their bodies and mouths are always going, as if driven by a motor. Combined ADHD is when a child has both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. A doctor will need to know if your child does at least six of these things in order to diagnose the condition: Daydreams and becomes easily distracted Misses important details or makes careless mistakes on homework and tests Gets bored quickly and has difficulty staying focused Has trouble getting organized (for example, losing homework assignments or keeping the bedroom messy and cluttered) Doesn't seem to listen when spoken to Avoids tasks which require a lot of focus Often loses track of things Is forgetful in day to day activities Has trouble following instructions and often shifts from task to task without finishing anything The doctor may also suggest some testing to rule out conditions that can have similar symptoms, including: Hearing or vision problems Learning disabilities Anxiety or depression If your child is diagnosed, his doctor may prescribe medication to improve his ability to concentrate,,suggest therapy, or use a small device to help stimultae the party of the brain believed to be responsible for ADHD. This recently FDA-approved device, called the Monach extermal Trigeminsl Nerve Stimulation (e TNS) System, can be prescribed for patients 7 to 12 years old who are not already taking ADHD medication. A combination of medicine and therapy is the most common approach. Behavior therapy also teaches you some parenting tactics, such as: Set up a system of rewards for good behavior. Withhold privileges or take away rewards to deal with unwanted behavior. Parents, teachers, and counselors can use these methods to help children with inattentive ADHD stay on track: Make to-do lists. Create lists of homework and household chores, and post them in places where your child can easily see them. " Bite-size" projects. Break down projects and requests into small tasks. Instead of saying, " Do your homework," you might say, " Finish your math sheet. Then read one chapter of your English book. Finally, write one paragraph describing what you read." Give clear instructions. Make them simple, and easy to understand. Organize. Make sure your child's clothes and schoolwork are always in the same place and easy to find. Get into a routine. A sense of order helps inattentive children stay focused. Follow the same schedule every day -- âget dressed, brush your teeth, eat breakfast, put on your coat.â Post the schedule in a central place, such as the kitchen or main hallway of your house. Cut down on distractions. Turn off the TV, computer, radio, and video games as much as possible at home. Ask the teacher to seat your child away from the windows and doors in class. Give rewards. Everyone likes praise for a job well-done. When the homework is finished on time, or the bedroom gets picked up, let your child know you noticed. You might offer to take them on a trip to the zoo or go out for frozen yogurt. Your child spends much of his time in school, so you'll need to be in touch with his teacher to keep tabs on how he's doing in class. Together, you can come up with different ways to help your child. The school can make accommodations to better serve your child's needs. Talk to the principal. When a child has the treatment, tools, and support he needs, he'll be able to focus and accomplish his goals.