If your child is hyper, it could be because they're just a kid. It's normal for children of all ages to have lots of energy. Preschoolers, for instance, can be very active -- they often move quickly from one activity to another. Older kids and teens are also energetic and don't have the same attention span as adults.
ADHD might explain why your child is so hyperactive, but there are also other reasons why your child might be experiencing very high energy levels. Some other potential causes include: Mental health conditions: Some mental health conditions can affect activity and energy levels, including anxiety and bipolar disorder.
People living with ADHD may have a variety of skills and abilities beyond those of their neurotypical counterparts. These may include hyperfocus, resilience, creativity, conversational skills, spontaneity, and abundant energy.
A Word From Verywell
While it's normal for young children to have plenty of energy, hyperactivity can interfere with their lives. Kids need to be able to sit still long enough to learn, for example. But It's important to make sure you have realistic expectations of your child.
Fun Fact: ADHD Is Not Always Linked with High Energy!
ADD may be characterized by low energy and inattentiveness – no hyperactivity whatsoever. Thus it's entirely possible to get diagnosed with ADHD without energetic behaviors, just like it's possible to have high energy without having ADHD.
The five gifts of ADHD include creativity, emotional sensitivity, exuberance, interpersonal empathy, and being nature-smart (The Gift of Adult ADD, 2008).
At what age are symptoms of ADHD the worst? The symptoms of hyperactivity are typically most severe at age 7 to 8, gradually declining thereafter. Peak severity of impulsive behaviour is usually at age 7 or 8. There is no specific age of peak severity for inattentive behaviour.
It's recommended that you consult a doctor or psychologist if your child always has too much energy or if their restlessness disturbs others, gets in the way of their schooling, or makes family life impossible.
Hyperactivity in kids may cause concern among parents, since it is often associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a condition that hampers brain development and brain activity, affecting attention, the ability to sit still, and self-control.
A child with inattentive ADHD is easily distracted or shows symptoms of inattention, but they're not hyperactive or impulsive. Hyperactive/impulsive: In this instance, a child's symptoms are hyperactive and impulsive behavior, but their attention span is typical. Combined: A mix of the first two.
Main key symptoms of ADHD in young children
Listening difficulties. Not following instructions. Making careless mistakes. Highly distractible.
Standard treatments for ADHD in children include medications, behavior therapy, counseling and education services. These treatments can relieve many of the symptoms of ADHD , but they don't cure it. It may take some time to determine what works best for your child.
Physiologically, it's simple. Kids get more oxygen, so they have more energy. On a more subtle level, you could say that kids have very little energy blocks in their system because their breathing is so full and complete. The energy reaches all the parts of the body that it needs to.
They are what I call the 5 C's of ADHD parenting: self-Control, Compassion, Collaboration, Consistency and Celebration.
People with ADHD have an Interest-Based Nervous System. This means that normal motivating factors for getting work done (importance, rewards, consequences) aren't actually very effective for motivating the ADHD brain. Instead, they rely on what I call the 4 Cs of Motivation: Captivate, Create, Compete, Complete.
Indeed more often you need to break tasks down and take frequent breaks.… Stop using the executive function system for a few minutes and give it a chance to refuel its fuel tank. This is why we talk about the 10 and 3 rule with ADHD children. 10 minutes of work, 3 minutes of break – 10 and 3 – 10 and 3.
ADHD symptoms start before age 12, and in some children, they're noticeable as early as 3 years of age. ADHD symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe, and they may continue into adulthood. ADHD occurs more often in males than in females, and behaviors can be different in boys and girls.
Most cases are diagnosed when children are under 12 years old, but sometimes it's diagnosed later in childhood. Sometimes ADHD was not recognised when someone was a child, and they are diagnosed later as an adult.
ADHD is not on the autism spectrum, but they have some of the same symptoms. And having one of these conditions increases the chances of having the other. Experts have changed the way they think about how autism and ADHD are related.
Does ADHD affect IQ? A popular misconception is that all children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are naturally smarter and have a higher IQ than children without ADHD. However, there is no correlation between this condition and intelligence.
There is a lot you can do to help yourself and get your symptoms under control. Exercise and eat healthfully. Exercise vigorously and regularly—it helps work off excess energy and aggression in a positive way while soothing and calming the body.