ADHD can be diagnosed as early as four years old.
Your concerns are valid, but it's important to remember that ADHD cannot be formally diagnosed until your child is 4 years old. Here's what to know about ADHD in babies, including signs and symptoms, causes, and how and when ADHD is diagnosed and treated.
Some experts believe children as young as 2 can show symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD), a neurodevelopmental condition. Identifying and treating ADHD as soon as possible can make the terrible two's, three's, and beyond a bit less terrible.
While ADHD is most often diagnosed in school-aged children, it can be diagnosed in children as young as three. Of course we expect all preschoolers to be active — more inclined to run around than to sit still. And we expect them to be impulsive — prone to doing things without thinking about the consequences.
Many kids who have ADHD have a parent or relative with it. Kids also can be more at risk for it if they were born early, are exposed to environmental toxins, or their mothers used drugs during pregnancy. ADHD is not caused by too much screen time, poor parenting, or eating too much sugar.
They get angry quickly, throw tantrums, and refuse to do things they don't want to do. These kids aren't trying to be bad. The problem is that ADHD can make it hard for them to do things they find difficult or boring. It also causes them to have a hard time controlling themselves when they get frustrated.
Toddlers with ADHD tend to be easily frustrated, moody, and even rude. They may worry too much or too long about even the smallest of things and have more difficulty transitioning.
The Social Immaturity factor was composed of items that are not what one might typically expect to be prototypical of the ADHD child: clingy, preferring younger children, clumsy, and acting young, which may overlap with the social deficits of PDD.
Autism is very distinct from ADHD, but the core symptoms of ADHD-Combined type, i.e., attention deficit, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, would appear to also be features of autism. ASD and ADHD are neurobiological disorders characterized by similar underlying neuropsychological “deficits”.
Children with ADHD often have difficulty paying attention to the same thing for too long, and they may get distracted easily. Autistic children may have a limited scope of interest. They may seem to obsess over things that they enjoy and have difficulty focusing on things that they have no interest in.
Symptoms in toddlers
It can be hard to notice symptoms of ADHD in children younger than 4 years of age. A short attention span, impulsivity, tantrums, and high levels of activity are common during certain stages of development.
Children with ADHD can experience difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep and getting up the next morning. The quality of their sleep can also be poor; their sleep is often described as restless with an inability to 'shut off'.
Is ADHD inherited from Mom or Dad? You can inherit genes that boost risk for ADHD from your mother, from your father or from both parents.
Similarly, people with ADHD can also experience 'meltdowns' more commonly than others, which is where emotions build up so extremely that someone acts out, often crying, angering, laughing, yelling and moving all at once, driven by many different emotions at once – this essentially resembles a child tantrum and can ...
Your child may: Have trouble staying focused; be easily distracted or get bored with a task before it's completed. Appear not to listen when spoken to. Have difficulty remembering things and following instructions; not pay attention to details or makes careless mistakes.
The short answer is no, says Stephanie Ruggiero, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. “About two-thirds of children who have ADHD will continue to meet criteria for ADHD by the time they're adults,” says Dr. Ruggiero. But, she says, that doesn't mean the symptoms stay the same.
In general, avoid food with simple carbs, especially sugar, corn sugar, and high fructose corn sugar, which is often used as an additive in processed food. Avoid sugary sodas! Avoid foods with artificial ingredients and artificial dyes. Some have been found to worsen ADHD symptoms.
Causes of ADHD
Recent studies link genetic factors with ADHD. In addition to genetics, scientists are studying other possible causes and risk factors including: Brain injury. Exposure to environmental risks (e.g., lead) during pregnancy or at a young age.
The researchers point out that children with ADHD may find it difficult to concentrate for long periods and are challenged by impulsivity and excess energy. Screens may be better able to capture and keep their attention, and screens may help calm and occupy children.
There is no blood test or brain scan that can tell whether or not a child has ADHD. Instead, the professional evaluating the child relies on information about the child's behavior in order to make an accurate diagnosis. This includes reports from their parents, teachers, and other adults who know them well.
Similar to the hyperactive symptoms, impulsive symptoms are typically seen by the time a child is four years old and increase during the next three to four years to peak in severity when the child is seven to eight years of age.