Does my child have hyperactivity disorder or is he just very agitated?

Pediatricians say: an active child is a healthy child. But something leaves many mothers and fathers confused, after all, at what point does the natural agitation of childhood begin to indicate a hyperactivity disorder and, consequently, the need for multidisciplinary medical follow-up?

With so much truncated information arriving on the cell phone and being spoken here and there, it is not uncommon for those responsible for the child to “find” ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) where it does not exist. Or, because they suspect that everything is exaggerated, they overlook a real ADHD that would need to be treated in the name of the well-being of the little one.

“It is understandable that parents are insecure, as there is no blood or neurological test that shows an organic alteration in the child to help in the diagnosis of ADHD”, says Carla Poppa, psychotherapist for children, adolescents and adults and author of the book “The Contact Support – Gestalt and Childhood” (Editora Summus).

So you need to keep an eye on symptoms – but with caution. Before we go to them, psychiatrist Livia Beraldo de Lima Bassares, assistant in the impulse control ward at the Institute of Psychiatry at Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP, explains: “An agitated child shows some of these signs in certain situations and then returns to having focus, while those with ADHD experience them practically all the time, everywhere and have difficulty focusing if they don’t have the tools to deal with it”.

Simply put: observe your son’s or daughter’s actions for a while – preferably a few days – before deciding whether to seek medical help or not.

Classic symptoms of ADHD

Carla and Livia indicate the following as classic symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder:

– Making silly mistakes repeatedly due to lack of attention (repeats the mistake several times even after receiving a good explanation about it);

– Not being able to follow an age-appropriate book story to the end;

– Interrupting everyone’s speech (adults and children) all the time;

– Abandoning age-appropriate play before finishing what she proposes or while everyone is still having fun to do something else entirely;

– Demonstrate irritation with activities that require you to remain seated continuously (painting, for example);

– Forget objects everywhere (in the locker at the club, at school, on the sports court, at friends’ houses).

They are usually noticed and diagnosed from the age of 4, but they can manifest themselves well up front, at the gates of adult life.

I think my son has ADHD. And now?

If you continually observe most of the symptoms in your child, it is natural that you would want a medical opinion to confirm a diagnosis or eliminate any doubts. The procedure will depend on the extent to which the symptoms are impairing the child’s daily life and well-being and on the approach with which the family feels most comfortable.

Mothers and fathers who prefer to rely on a little more observation and give their son or daughter time to demonstrate the behavior to the chosen specialist tend to do better with a treatment that begins with psychotherapy. “The sessions with the child are intended to help them get in touch with their own sensations and act according to what they feel”, says Carla.

She clarifies that children who are just agitated will have their attention dispersed by any stimulus in the new environment, but as the familiarity with their sensations increases, the agitation will tend to decrease. “In the orientation sessions with the parents, the idea is to reflect on the changes that need to be made in the family dynamics so that the child has space to express his needs.”

However, if after a period of therapy and family changes the agitation remains and continues to compromise the child’s quality of life, then it is better to think about referring the child to a psychiatrist who will assess whether medication is necessary.

On the other hand, mothers and fathers who already notice a very big loss in the child’s life due to the classic and clear symptoms of ADHD – and who have received some guidance from the school in this regard, which is very common – tend to feel more comfortable going straight to a psychiatrist.

There, a clinical evaluation based on observation and questionnaires will be carried out, and then the child will be referred to psychotherapy that will help him organize his attention.

From then on, a combined effort between family, professionals and school will be necessary for the child to progress in all aspects. “Communication between the school and professionals, through reports and agendas, is very important”, observes Livia.

All this care will reflect positively in the future. Children with untreated ADHD are at risk for being insecure in adolescence and adulthood, having difficulty making simple decisions, and feeling inadequacy that leads to depression. Children who are just agitated will be able to properly focus their attention and live better. When in doubt, do not hesitate to make the complete referral.