Does My Child Just Have High Energy, or Could it be ADHD?

We’ve all heard of it, that term that everyone seems to use to describe children (and even adults) with seemingly high energy levels: ADHD. And hey, maybe you’ve thought it to yourself some days when your child just won’t sit still to do his or her homework: “Does my child have ADHD?” But the truth is, there is a lot more to ADHD than simply having a lot of energy on any given day. In fact, a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder takes into account many factors that you may not even associate with this “ADHD” term that we seem to hear in colloquial terms nowadays. 

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder characterized by a continuing pattern of inattentive and/or hyperactive/impulsive behaviours that interferes with daily functioning or normal cognitive development. Most importantly, these behaviours must be noticeable in more than one environment! For example: both in the home when completing duties such as chores and within the classroom when participating in school-related activities. It is also important to note that the diagnostic criteria for ADHD states that these behaviours must be present prior to the age of 12.

ADHD is actually more common than most think. A survey conducted in 2020 estimates that as many as 6.1 MILLION children and teens between the ages of 2 and 17 in the U.S. have a diagnosis of ADHD. In our practice, we see many parents that are concerned that their children may have ADHD. Although the symptoms can present early (and are variable), we do not recommend labelling any child as having ADHD before the age of 4. 

Inattentive Symptoms may look like:

·      Wandering off task, whether that be during learning or playing activities 

·      Easy distractibility by external stimuli, or even by unrelated thoughts (but this is more common in adolescents)

·      Not seeming to listen when spoken to, even in the absence of noticeable distractions

·      Not following  instructions and having difficulty organizing and completing tasks—this can mean many things, such as doing chores at home or completing schoolwork in the classroom

·      Frequently losing things 

·      Forgetfulness in daily activities 

·      Tendency to daydream

·      Avoiding tasks that require sustained mental effort or sitting still

·      Making careless errors when completing tasks

Hyperactive/Impulsive symptoms may look like:

·      Squirming, fidgeting, or bouncing while sitting 

·      Leaving their seat often in an environment where they are expected to remain seated 

·      Constantly being “on the mood”, frequently running around and climbing on objects

·      Difficulty waiting their turn or waiting in lines

·      Interrupting others when they are speaking or blurting out answers when they have not been asked to

·      Being excessively talkative or speaking inappropriately loud based on the environment they are in

Remember, these signs and symptoms can look different in each individual diagnosed with ADHD! Age is an important consideration, as a distractable 4-year-old will likely be demonstrate these behaviours in a different context than a distractable 12-year-old!

So, let’s get to the main question: Does my child just have high energy, or is it ADHD? Well, that’s a question that only a licensed professional can answer after proper assessment. However, we can tell you the single most important question you must ask yourself when trying to distinguish between the two: is there impairment of normal functioning or learning that is a direct consequence of your child’s behaviours? Many children with high energy are perfectly able to function and perform well at school, in social interactions, and at home. If this is the case, then your child likely does not have ADHD! However, if you answered yes to the prior question, then perhaps it may be time to speak with your pediatrician. 

In any case, we’re here to tell you that ADHD is not a detriment to your child’s learning and development potential! Here are some tips that we hope can help anyone with a child that has, or may have, ADHD:

·      Whether you choose to pursue medication or not (which is entirely your choice), therapy is highly recommended

·      We cannot emphasize this enough: LIMIT, limit, limit SCREEN TIME

·      If you have concerns, talk to your child’s teacher, then talk to your doctor. Your pediatrician will want to know what the teachers have observed

·      The more we learn, the more we understand that concentration is a skill that can be taught. That’s why we highly recommend that children with a short attention span learn the skill of meditation

·      A big part of identifying and addressing ADHD is to focus on the child’s self-confidence. ADHD can be very isolating, so we make sure that these children understand just how smart they are and how much potential they truly have. 

Your PediPals