ADHD in children and young people

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects different functions of the brain. These can include:

• communication
• movement
• learning
• emotions
• attention

Everyone can experience the symptoms of ADHD differently. For some people, the symptoms have a positive effect on their life. For others, the effect is negative.

The information that follows may help most when symptoms are having a negative effect.

You can read about the positive experiences of ADHD on Procrastination Station, an organisation in Scotland that is run for people with ADHD by people with ADHD.

The symptoms of ADHD can include:

• inattentiveness, which means finding it hard to concentrate
• hyperactivity, which means feeling restless and struggling to sit still
• impulsiveness, which means saying or doing things without thinking about the consequences

All children and young people can experience these things at some point in their lives, or in certain situations. A child or young person might struggle to concentrate after a bad night's sleep, for example, or while going through a stressful time.

With ADHD, these challenges affect daily life in a negative way, and they do so on a regular basis. It might hold a child back from progressing in school, for instance.

Symptoms of ADHD are usually noticed at an early age. They may become more noticeable when a child's circumstances change, like when they start school.

Children and young people with ADHD who find it hard to pay attention (inattentiveness) might:

• have a short attention span
• be easily distracted, daydream often and seem forgetful
• make frequent mistakes in their schoolwork or activities
• misread or skip questions in their schoolwork
• lose things like their homework or house keys, and seem forgetful about it
• struggle to finish tedious or time-consuming tasks
• struggle to listen to or follow instructions
• keep changing activity or task, and not finish projects they've started
• have difficulty organising tasks

Children and young people with ADHD who are hyperactive and impulsive might:

• be unable to sit still, especially in quiet places like school
• fidget constantly, or feel restless or uncomfortable when sitting still
• be unable to concentrate on tasks
• talk over others
• find it hard to wait their turn
• feel the urge to say what's in their head because they might forget it
• act without thinking, even when something is risky or dangerous
• have little or no sense of danger

These symptoms usually show up in different settings, such as school and home, and sometimes they cause problems. They may look different depending on where the child is.

A child with ADHD can sometimes seem disruptive and rude in a place like the classroom.

There's often support and adjustments that can help children and young people cope with their day to day lives. And whether or not your child has a diagnosis, there are things you can try to help them manage the symptoms of ADHD.

Many children, especially when they're young, struggle to concentrate. They may also find it hard to sit still for long periods. This doesn't necessarily mean a child has ADHD. Some children are simply more excitable or restless than others, and every child is different and develops at their own pace.

The ability to focus usually gets better as we grow older. A 12 year old can usually pay attention for longer than a 2 year old, for example.

Compared with other children of the same age, children and young people with ADHD:

• find it harder to focus
• have lots of energy and act quickly on their thoughts or ideas
• may find it hard to progress through school

It may help to talk with your child's school about how to identify and meet their support needs. The school should be able to offer some help and support.

How a child is assessed for ADHD can depend on the area they live in.

No single test or checklist can confirm whether a child has ADHD. Their symptoms and the effect those symptoms have will need to be looked at as part of a full assessment of their mental health. This matters because it helps rule out other conditions that could be mistaken for ADHD.

If you're worried about your child, it may help to talk to their teachers before you see your doctor. That way you can find out whether they have any concerns too.

Your doctor can't formally diagnose ADHD. They can discuss your concerns with you and talk about the next steps.

Waiting lists for assessments can be very long. There are things you can do in the meantime that may help you manage the symptoms.

In many cases, you'll need to try these changes before an assessment can be completed.

Often these changes are part of treatment plans for ADHD, and these are written with you and your child's education and healthcare professionals.

Read about approaches that you can try to manage the symptoms of ADHD.

ADHD in children and young people can occur alongside other problems or conditions. These can include:

• dyslexia and dyspraxia
• speech and language problems
• anxiety
• depression
• autism
• sleep problems
• oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), which involves negative and disruptive behaviour, particularly towards figures of authority
• conduct disorder, which often involves antisocial behaviour, like stealing and harming people or animals
• epilepsy
• learning disability
• Tourette's syndrome

Mental health conditions often overlap, which means the same symptom can show up in more than one condition. Difficulty concentrating is a good example. It can be a symptom of depression, but it can also be a symptom of ADHD.

So a child's whole mental health needs to be assessed and considered. This helps confirm the right support, diagnosis and treatment.

Doctors don't know what causes ADHD. It's likely that a combination of factors is responsible.

Several things are linked to ADHD, including:

• having a sibling or parent with ADHD
• having a neurodevelopmental disorder like autism
• having a learning disability
• having epilepsy
• being born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy)
• having had a brain injury
• environmental factors

There are many things that can help with problems of attention, focus and mental wellbeing in anyone who has symptoms of ADHD.

Changes to your child's environment and lifestyle are the first steps in managing the symptoms. Often these approaches are part of the treatment plans that health professionals provide for ADHD.

Parents, children and young people with ADHD may be offered:

• sessions explaining ADHD
• coaching for friends and family members
• cognitive behavioural therapy

If a child or young person with ADHD has tried lifestyle and environmental changes consistently for a few months and is still having significant difficulties, their doctor may suggest medicine.