In Step Two, ADHD is usually detected during which period?

• A. School age
• B. Infancy
• C. College age
• D. After retirement

Answer: (A)

ADHD tends to be detected during the school-age years because the classroom environment brings out the core difficulties: staying focused, organizing tasks, following multi-step instructions, and controlling impulses. In school, children are routinely asked to attend for long periods, complete assignments, and behave in structured settings. When a child struggles with these demands, patterns of inattention and hyperactivity stand out to teachers and parents, prompting evaluation. The criteria also note that symptoms start before age 12, which aligns with detection happening during the school years. Infancy doesn’t reliably reveal ADHD in a clear, diagnosable way, college age is less common for first identification, and after retirement there’s no school context to highlight these issues. So the school-age period is when ADHD is usually noticed.