Excessive hyperactivity is something that gives all parents some level of anxiety. When we notice our children are impatient, have a difficult time paying attention, constantly fidget, or struggle to listen, we quickly worry whether or not they may be suffering from ADD or ADHD. While this is sometimes the case, the majority of the time this hyperactive behavior is a normal response to your child’s age and gender. Here are a few ways to help you differentiate between age-appropriate behavior and symptoms of ADD/ADHD.

When To See A Doctor

Trying to decide whether or not your child might be struggling with ADD/ADHD or if they’re simply very active can be stressful for parents. According to some ADHD Treatment Services, there are 9 different symptoms associated with ADHD; however, just because your child exhibits a couple of these symptoms, it doesn’t always signify that they have ADD/ADHD. It’s typical for children to want to talk to their friends at inappropriate times, or to have a difficult time sitting still for more than a few minutes. But if your child exhibits four or more of these symptoms on a regular basis , it may then be necessary to have them evaluated by a doctor similar to the ones at North Raleigh Pediatrics.

  1. Lack of Focus – easily distracted, can’t hold attention on one thing for very long, and has a difficult time listening.
  2. Hyper-focused – becomes completely consumed by one thing and ignores his surroundings.
  3. Disorganized – has a difficult time keeping their things organized.
  4. Forgetful – habitually forgets things whether important or menial.
  5. Impulsive – this might include interrupting someone while they’re speaking, being socially inappropriate, making quick decisions without a thought of the consequences, or rushing through things.
  6. Emotional Issues – has unpredictable mood swings.
  7. Frequent Daydreaming – often stares into space and becomes totally oblivious to their surroundings.
  8. Mistakes – because staying focused and organized is difficult, this often leads to mistakes made on various tasks.
  9. Anxiety and Restlessness – when your child isn’t able to get up and move, they can get restless, anxious and fidgety.

Another Factor That May Be Contributing To Your Child’s Hyper Activity Other Than A Behavioral Disorder

Another explanation for a child’s hyperactivity might be food sensitivity: excessive artificial coloring and sugar added to your child’s diet may be playing a role in their behavior. Omega-3 fatty acids have been proven to help children focus better, this means incorporating more fish, chia seeds, spinach, walnuts, etc, into your family’s diet.

Keep track of when your child becomes excessively hyper and try to see if there is a correlation between their diet and their behavior. You may find specific foods are triggering problematic behavior.

If you don’t think that their diet is an issue, ask yourself, “Are these problems constant or occasional?”

Constant Vs. Occasional Behavior

It’s normal for your child to occasionally seem restless, to want to socialize with their neighbor in class, to not finish their homework, and to be disruptive. If these are occasional occurrences, you likely have nothing to worry about. After all, every child grows and develops at slightly different rates. However, if these are every day occurrences in your household, there is a possibility that your child is struggling with ADD/ADHD, or some other behavioral problem.

Seeking A Diagnosis

Once you’ve ruled out food sensitivity, confirmed that these problematic behaviors are constant, and have noticed at least four ADD/ADHD symptoms, it is time to have a talk with your child’s pediatrician. They will listen to your concerns and be able to give you further direction as to whether or not your child should take an adhd assessment, or if their behavior may be caused by some other issue.

Treatment

Treatment for ADD/ADHD can greatly help your child learn how to manage their symptoms. Together, you and your doctor will agree on supplements and prescribed medication. Your doctor may also teach you behavior management tools that are helpful for managing ADD/ADHD. A combination of these three treatments will go a long way in helping your child be successful in school and throughout the rest of their life.

While ADD/ADHD can provide you and your family with challenges, diagnosing the problem brings you and your family much closer to finding solutions that work for your child. Many advancements for ADD/ADHD have been made in the last decade and we have no reason to think these behavioral disorders aren’t ones that can be significantly improved.

Tyler Jacobson is a father, husband, and writer, with experience as a content writer and outreach coordinator for HelpYourTeenNow. Tyler has offered honest advice and humor to struggling parents and teens. Tyler has researched and written on education problems, varying disorders, the world of social media, addiction, and pressing issues about raising teens today. Follow Tyler on: Twitter | LinkedIn