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If your child seems restless, has trouble concentrating, experience bursts of energy, or acts on impulse with little control over their emotions, the issue might be ADHD. In fact, more than 9.4% of children between the ages of 2 – 17 in the U.S. have an ADHD diagnosis. That’s 6.1 million children. So, what exactly is ADHD, and how can you tell if your child has it?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a brain condition that affects attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity due to differences in brain chemistry and wiring. It affects the prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain that is responsible for executive functioning. This can result in difficulty with tasks that require sustained attention, organization, planning, and impulse control.

General Symptoms

Children with ADHD struggle to pay attention and focus on one thing, are energetic and restless, and tend to act irresponsibly, without considering the result of their actions. A child with ADHD could display all of these symptoms or just a few. Your child could be hyperactive and inattentive, but not necessarily impulsive. This is ADD – attention deficit disorder, which is diagnosed more in boys than girls. Because the symptoms are not that obvious, this sometimes leads to ADHD /ADD being undiagnosed. This can then result in struggling with schoolwork or socialization later on in life.

What are the signs you should look for?

Symptoms of ADHD are usually noticeable before the age of six and would happen in more than one situation and context (at school, at home, at friends, or at family’s homes). Doctors are reluctant to diagnose a child before the age of 5 or 6 with ADHD, yet your baby may display certain telltale signs to take notice of. Here are four signs to notice in babies.

Symptoms in Babies:

• Excessive crying: Remember, babies cry when they are uncomfortable, hungry, frustrated, or need a parent to hug them. You will know the tone and urgency of your baby’s crying to satisfy the baby’s need. Sometimes, however, the baby cries without obvious reason and cannot be consoled. If the baby has an extremely irregular sleep pattern and colic, ADHD may be a factor to consider.
• Short attention span: Infants and toddlers cannot focus on one task for a long time. A few minutes for a child of up to two years is a good start. The more it is practiced with them – through telling stories, building blocks, and talking – the more it will increase. Their focus will increase with age so that they can listen to a short story with color and sounds, specifically written for infants to hold their attention. A child of three should be able to listen for five to ten minutes and a five-year-old for fifteen minutes. If your toddler cannot listen or focus on simple tasks, it is another possible sign of ADHD.
• Restlessness: Some babies squirm more than usual and resist being cuddled. They have a problem settling down at bedtime and would toss and turn and get up and cry for a while before settling down to sleep. This could be part of the child’s personality or could indicate a potential problem as the child grows older. Restless babies can also be difficult to feed, and they may have a hard time accepting new foods.
• Tantrums and sudden outbursts: All kids have temper tantrums, like the terrible two’s when they can’t get what they want or communicate what they need. This is normal for most children, but a baby with ADHD will take the temper tantrum to the extreme by rocking back and forth, banging their head, and sobbing for hours on end.

Remember, your child may just be acting like an infant in the ways mentioned above. Give it time and observe your child before jumping to conclusions. If you are concerned, keep a notebook and write down dates and any abnormal behavior so you can discuss it with an expert later. The youngest a child can be diagnosed with ADHD is between the ages of 4-6 depending on the child, symptoms, and health provider. A good suggestion would be for you to overview your child’s current milestones and day-to-day behaviors, and then compare them to what the overall standard is for children of their age.

When can a child be diagnosed with ADHD?

A child can be evaluated for ADHD as early as four years of age. Suppose you have noticed any of the behavior mentioned. In the case that you have noticed any of the behaviors mentioned, it is best to take your child, as soon as they are of age, to be evaluated before difficulties arise in school. Keep in mind that diagnosing a child does depend on strict criteria. For example, children must have six or more symptoms of inattentiveness, impulsiveness, or hyperactivity to be diagnosed.

Symptoms in older children

Inattentiveness in older children includes behavior like not completing a task, making careless mistakes, losing things and being forgetful, being easily distracted, not being able complete a time-consuming activity, constantly changing a task, and having difficulty organizing tasks. Hyperactivity in older children includes the inability to sit still, constant fidgeting, excessive physical movement even when working on a task, excessive talking, not waiting for their turn, interrupting conversations, having little or no sense of danger, and acting without thinking.  They do not listen to others – even in a social context, and cannot follow simple instructions like “Put the cup on the table.” They often interrupt others to speak or seek attention. They are constantly on the move, running, climbing trees or furniture, with apparently no reason except to keep moving.

For a child of four years or older to be diagnosed with ADHD, they must show the following symptoms:

• Have shown the symptoms continuously for at least six months.
• Displayed symptoms before the age of 12.
• Show the symptoms in at least two different settings (example: both at home and in school), to make sure it is not just a reaction to parental control, or something in the new environment that upsets the child.
• Have difficulty adjusting to social, academic, or behavioral contexts.
• Have symptoms that are not part of normal development, or apart from any other disorder or condition.

Parenting a child with ADHD

Being a parent of a child with ADHD is demanding as you help your child understand both about, and how to respond to, their symptoms. It is important to remember that they cannot help their behavior, and punishment will not change the way they respond or act. One thing you can do to help your child is to have daily consistency. For example, a daily routine for both going to school and bedtime is important – even though yes, we understand this might be harder for some children. Another way to help is by giving short instructions for one task to complete at a time to prevent them from feeling overwhelmed. Lastly, being organized yourself will help children mirror you with their own organization. Above all, be patient, and seek help in good time.

Where to get help?

An estimated 3 in 4 children with ADHD get medication, therapy, or a combination of the two. Progen Care is a game-changer for parents looking for free professional care for their child with ADHD. We provide a free assessment with a licensed professional to help you figure out which Home- and Community Based Services (HCBS) you qualify for. Then we guide you through the whole process until you’re all set up. With Progen Care in your corner, you can give your child the best possible care and support. Don’t wait – start your Progen journey today and take the first step towards a brighter future for your child. Reach out to us now for your free consultation.