Why children hyperactive

Log in Register. Ages and Stages. Healthy Living. Safety and Prevention. Family Life. Health Issues. Tips and Tools. Our Mission. Find a Pediatrician. Text Size. Page Content. ADHD is now one of the most common and most studied conditions of childhood. Significant head injuries may cause ADHD in some cases. If you think your child has ADHD, make an appointment with your child's doctor.

They will do a checkup, including a vision and hearing check, to be sure something else isn't causing the symptoms. To diagnose ADHD, doctors start by asking about a child's health, behavior, and activity. They talk with parents and kids about the things they have noticed. Your doctor might ask you to complete checklists about your child's behavior, and might ask you to give your child's teacher a checklist too.

Many kids with ADHD also have learning problems, oppositional and defiant behaviors, or mood and anxiety problems. Doctors usually treat these along with the ADHD. The right treatment helps ADHD improve. Parents and teachers can teach younger kids to get better at managing their attention, behavior, and emotions. As they grow older, kids should learn to improve their own attention and self-control. When ADHD is not treated, it can be hard for kids to succeed. This may lead to low self-esteem, depression, oppositional behavior, school failure, risk-taking behavior, or family conflict.

ADHD can improve when kids get treatment, eat healthy food, get enough sleep and exercise, and have supportive parents who know how to respond to ADHD. Reviewed by: Shirin Hasan, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. Kids who are inattentive easily distracted have trouble focusing their attention, concentrating, and staying on task. They may not listen well to directions, may miss important details, and may not finish what they start.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Arlington, Va. Accessed Jan. Brown A. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Rochester, Minn. Voight RG, et al. National Institute of Mental Health. Accessed Jan 26, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What is ADHD? American Psychiatric Association. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Ra CK, et al. For parents and caregivers. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. For instance, they may show lack of focus both in school and at home. This can make kids and adolescents with ADHD seem immature compared to their peers. All children are going to exhibit some of these behaviors at some point. Daydreaming, fidgeting, and persistent interruptions are all common behaviors in children.

ADHD is treatable. If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, review all of the treatment options. Then, set up a time to meet with a doctor or psychologist to determine the best course of action.

Read this article in Spanish. Impulsivity, being overly fidgety…. Boys are three times more likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis than girls, but symptoms are often more subtle and harder to identify. Learn more about…. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder commonly associated with children, but approximately 4 percent of American adults as many as 9 million people …. Medication is a common treatment for ADHD symptoms. There are several medications prescribed to treat symptoms, but they do come with some risks.

To help your child thrive, highlight the positives.