Sometimes, parents have to take little more care than usual to identify if their kids have any disorder in them or not. It can be a big deal for the parents to learn that their toddler may have a disorder that would require special attention. As a parent, it is not an easy information to digest and at times, the disorders are not easy to identify. ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder) is once such disorders that is hard to find in toddlers as the symptoms are very close to the natural behavior of toddlers.
For the parents to find out if their child has ADHD, it is important they learn about all the ADHD symptoms toddlers have. ADHD symptoms in toddlers can be tricky and most symptoms are how toddlers generally behave.

Some ADHD symptoms in toddlers are:
Short term attention span
Unable to pay attention
Always fidgets
Low to no patience
Interruptive behavior
Takes risk (unaware of consequences)

Even after knowing the symptoms in detail, parents need to sit and observe their child carefully so they don’t miss out of any ADHD symptoms in their toddler. Here is a checklist parents can follow to identify if their child has ADHD or not:

– If the behavior of their kid is similar to the behavior of other kids my kid meets
– If the behavior you expect your child to have is justified for his age or not
– If certain behavior in their child has a pattern while he is in some activity
– If the behavior has a patter in many different activities or settings

If you are a parent and want to know there are any ADHD symptoms in your toddler, then you can take notes from this test. The observations you make and help the doctor identify if your child has the disorder or not.

At times, you can seek help from the teachers who spend lot of time with your kid. Though teachers cannot always pay full attention to a kid, they can still notice how one kid is behaving slightly different from the others. This can give you more insights and help you point out ADHD symptoms toddlers have, or your toddler has.

You can also cross check your observations with the teacher’s by asking him/her to notice your kid more for some time till he/she checks all the questions and concludes. Two separate conclusions can help you identify the problem with more clarity.

All toddlers can have difficulty sitting still, paying attention or controlling impulsive behavior. Inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity are a part of their normal development, these, however, are also the core symptoms of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hypersensitivity Disorder); this makes it difficult to distinguish the signs and symptoms of ADHD in your toddler and usual kid’s behavior.

If you uncover a few signs of ADHD symptoms only in certain situations, it’s most likely not an ADHD. However if the signs are persistent and they are present across all the situations like at home, at school and at playtime, your toddler probably has ADHD.

The symptoms of ADHD onset typically at an early age.

Signs & Symptoms of ADHD in toddlers:

Constant Fidgeting
Difficulty in sitting still and relaxing
Short tempered
Daydreaming
Inability to finish tasks/ too much focus
Inability to focus

One of the most obvious sign of ADHD is hyperactivity. While toddlers are naturally quite active, the ones with hyperactive symptoms of ADHD are unable to sit still even when asked to, jumping around from one activity to the next. They may try to do several things at once.

However usually when people think of ADHD, they picture an out-of-control kid in constant motion, full of excitement and agitation, disrupting everyone around. But this is not the only possible picture.

Toddlers with ADHD can be hyperactive, while some can be quiet, usually daydreaming with their attention miles away. Some kids can have poor organizational and executive skills with a lot of focus on a particular task and have trouble shifting it to something else. Others are only mildly inattentive, but overly impulsive.

Usually kids who only have inattentive symptoms of ADHD are overlooked, since they’re not disruptive.

Kids with ADHD may be:
Inattentive
Hyperactive and impulsive, but able to pay attention.
Inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive (combination)
Helping your toddler with ADHD

ADHD symptoms in your toddler can lead to problems at home and school and affect your child’s ability to learn and get along with others if not managed.

The best treatment for a child with ADHD is therapy for the parents. Raising a toddler with ADHD symptoms can be challenging and isolating too.

The most important thing a parent can do for their toddler is to really understand the posology of ADHD kids withholding judgment, no matter how intense their behavior can sometimes be, no matter how difficult it is for you to deal with the ADHD signs and symptoms of your toddler, it is far more difficult for the child.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) refers to symptoms like impulsivity, inattentiveness, and hyperactivity. ADD symptoms can affect both children and adults. However, the symptoms start to show in the early childhood. About five million children from 3 to 13 years of age suffer from this condition in the US.

Symptoms:
ADD has many symptoms and it differs from child to child. Symptoms can be mild or severe, depending on the physiology and the environment of the child. To diagnose a child with ADD, he or she must show at least six of the following symptoms.
Gets distracted easily
Often forgets things
Daydreams
Has trouble following instructions
Cannot concentrate on and finish tasks like chores and homework
Impatient
Blurts inappropriate comments
Finds it hard to control their emotions
Often loses school supplies, toys, and books
Fidgets and squirms constantly
Talks excessively

Diagnosis:
There are no specific tests that can diagnose ADHD in children. The pediatrician always asks you about the symptoms and gathers some information about the same from you and your child’s teachers or caregivers. The child must be showing these symptoms for at least 6 months on regular basis for the doctor to determine ADHD using the standard guidelines provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Types of ADHD:
ADHD can be broadly classified into 3 types.
Combined type: In this type of ADHD, the children are hyperactive, inattentive and impulsive. This is the most common type of ADHD.
Hyperactive type: In this type of ADHD, children are attentive, but are hyperactive and also impulsive.
Inattentive type: This was earlier known as ADD-Attention Deficit Disorder. Children with ADD are not hyperactive. They usually do not disturb the class and hence their symptoms go unnoticed.

Treatment:
The treatment for ADD and ADHD differs for every child because their symptoms also differ. The medications are given to manage the symptoms. The doctor decides what medication and counseling work for your child. A child’s parents and teachers play a crucial role in managing his or her symptoms. Medication controls the symptoms and helps to tackle the problems caused by the symptoms like losing things, getting distracted and being hyperactive. Medications stimulate your child’s brain and help to think straight.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT):
You doctor will prescribe CBT to help the child manage the symptoms. This therapy teaches:
How to manage time
How to control emotions
How to handle stress
How to avoid taking risks
As time progresses, symptoms change. Accordingly, your counselor and the doctor will change the treatment and counseling.

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) can be very straining on relationships. People with ADHD find it difficult to be in a relationship. Maintaining a relationship with a person with ADHD sets lots of challenges. Due to their neurological disorders, they are pictured by their partners as:
Distracted
Forgetful
Poor listeners

When one of the partners has ADHD, most of the responsibilities like managing chores, finances, parenting and organizing fall on the non-ADHD partner. Due to this burden, the other partner feels worn out and unloved. And the relationship starts to fall apart. But it doesn’t mean that the relationships don’t work at all. With some understanding and cooperation from the other partner, the relationship can flourish.

Understanding your ADHD partner:
People know ADHD in general, but they do not understand what it means to have an ADHD person as a partner in a relationship. It is a chronic neurological disorder that will be there for life. You cannot cure this condition, but you can manage the symptoms with medication. Your partner’s symptoms include difficulty in paying attention, concentrating on a task, and being overactive. Most of the common difficulties faced from an ADHD partner are:
Lack of concentration
Poor time management
Lack of self-discipline
Difficulty with organizational skills
Misplaced motivation

Difficulties in a relationship:
In a marriage, both the partners bring in their own set of strengths and weaknesses. But if one of the partners is ADHD-affected, then he or she comes into the relationship with some extra baggage. In the beginning, the shortcomings of the ADHD partner goes unnoticed because of their hyper-focus and extreme attentiveness and affection. However, as the relationship progress, reality starts biting the non-ADHD partner. He or she may feel unloved, unappreciated and has to take up the majority of the responsibility in the relationship. The most common problems faced by the unaffected partner in the marriage are:

Taking up financial responsibility
Doing most of the parenting
Managing home
Doing chores
Taking care of family problems

How to make the relationship work:
If the couple wants to work on saving the relationship or marriage, the unaffected spouse must understand that the problems in their relationship are not because of the partner with ADHD, but because of the ADHD symptoms. To make the marriage work, the couple can consider going for a therapy. A professional therapist who is experienced in ADHD can help the couple find a way back to their honest communication. The therapist can also help the couple to rebuild their bonds and have a healthy relationship. Once you learn how to respond and how to manage your ADHD partner’s symptoms, you will understand where your partner is coming from and your relationship starts to progress.

Many people think Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated only with kids and children outgrow those symptoms. But 60% of children will still have symptoms of ADHD like impulsiveness and hyperactivity even as they become adults. It is believed that about 5% of young adults, both men, and women, in America are diagnosed with the symptoms.

Many children who are suffering from ADHD have it even as an adult. But some adults get it diagnosed later in life because their symptoms may not have been noticed as a child. These symptoms do not develop later in the life. They develop and grow since childhood.

Symptoms of adult ADHD:
Adults who are suffering from ADHD find it hard to do the following tasks:
Remembering information
Following directions
Finishing work on time
Concentrating on the current activity
Managing time
Following traffic rules and driving safely

Challenges for ADHD adults:
Adults suffering from ADHD symptoms often find it hard to carry on with their activities at work and at home. But eventually, they learn to work around their weakness. Most of these adults find their strengths and become successful in their lives. Some of the challenges that adults with ADHD face include the following:
Depression
Forgetfulness
Chronic boredom
Trouble in controlling their anger
Low self-esteem
Impulsiveness
Mood swings
Procrastination
Problems in maintaining personal and professional relations
Getting into substance addiction and abuse
Lower tolerance for frustration
Always being late

No two persons have same ADHD symptoms, so the challenges faced by them also differ. If you are in school or college, due to attention problem, you may be underachieving and have to repeat grades. Due to problems in controlling anger and frustration, you may get into trouble a lot of times and some adults may even get dropped out of school for the same reason.

Treatment of adult ADHD:
Treatment for children with ADHD differs from adults with ADHD. Normal treatment includes medication, psychological counseling, and training. The most common prescribed medications are stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate. These medications have chemicals called neurotransmitters that boost the levels of the brain. Other non-stimulant medications include atomoxetine and antidepressants like Wellbutrin, Bupropion, and others.

Counseling an ADHD-affected adult:
Treatment for ADHD also includes psychotherapy to help you. Counseling trains you on the following aspects:
Organization skills and time management skills
Improves problem-solving skills
Reduces impulsive behavior
Works on your relationships, both personal and professional
Works on your failures (social, academic and professional)
Develops self-esteem
Anger management

Apart from medical intervention, it is also believed that mindfulness meditation can help you improve your attention spans and mood.

It can be very challenging to travel with your ADHD child because it disturbs their daily routine. But with some planning, you can make your trip very pleasant and enjoyable. To keep your child happy and have fun during your vacation, you need to follow these simple strategies.

Preparation:
Children with ADHD don’t like it when their routine is disturbed. So prepare your child in advance. Talk to him/her about your travel plans. Sit down with them and discuss why you are traveling and to where so that your child is aware of the plans ahead of time rather than taking it as a surprise. Also, tell them what you are going to do on your vacation. Ask them for their suggestions and try to include their inputs in the plan so that they can feel included. Be flexible and offer them various options to choose from so that their choices are open.

Traveling schedule:
Your child will find it stressful to keep up with a tight travel schedule. So, plan some breaks every two hours. Find a place where your can child can play for a while before resuming the journey again. If you are traveling on back to back flights, opt for a long layover so that your child can eat and relax. Walk around the airport with your child rather than sitting in the lounge to make him/her reset the focus.

Also, be sure to include bathroom breaks, meals and nap times in your plan. Having them planned makes your traveling schedule very easy. Be prepared to entertain your ADHD child during the travel time. Otherwise, the child can become frustrated and impatient and it will become difficult for you to handle. Bring in some interactive toys and games to keep the child occupied.

Medication:
If your child is on medication for ADHD symptoms, be sure to pack all the medications. Also, keep the prescription in hand just in case you need it during travel. Do not put the medicines in the check-in luggage. Always carry them along with you. Carry enough medications to last the entire vacation.

Relaxation techniques:
Practice some relaxation techniques with your child to calm him down when he gets upset during the travel. You can start by telling your child to approach you when he or she has an argument with a friend or a relative. Gently, keep reminding them of the rules and guidelines of travel. If they get frustrated with constant sitting, change their focus on to games and puzzles.

Appreciate good behavior:
When you appreciate your child’s good behavior, it reminds them of their strengths. It also boosts their confidence levels. Reward them with a star on the chart for their good behavior. Let them earn a treat for being good and following the travel rules.

Child ADHD
As a parent, have you noticed that your kid is lacking attention and seems to be living in a world of his own? Did you also notice that your child often appear to be distracted and his answers are vague and not forthcoming? These are some of the common traits that a child experiences at some point of time and these symptoms usually go away as they age. However, if these symptoms persist and appear to get worse then consult your physician immediately as you child might have ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Let us look at it in depth.

Symptoms of ADHD in a child:
The symptoms of ADHD in kids may include
Constant motion
Interrupts others repeatedly
Gets easily distracted
Does not finish the activities he/she started
Talks in an unnatural way
Does not listen attentively

If you feel that your child is having these symptoms for a long duration, then it would be safe to get medical help. There is no specific diagnosis for child ADHD. However, your doctor or the psychiatrist can look at the work environment of the child and his behavior at school to judge the nature of the patterns.
The doctor can also take a medical exam of your child, and in some cases, can give him/her a non-invasive brain scan.

There are also many behavioral patterns that must be noted in the child and the reasons that have caused the change. These reasons can include despair from a sudden life change (like a divorce of a parent or a death of a parent), anxiety due to bullying, depression and bipolar disorders.

Types of ADHD in Children:
Combined type: Children can be inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive in behavior
Hyperactive: They are always hyperactive and can easily get excited
Inattentive: They are unable to concentrate or hold their attention on for a prolonged period

Treatment:
The treatment of ADHD predominantly depends on the help the child with ADHD gets in his/her childhood. This is more of a closed treatment where parents and family members have an equal role to play. There can be some drugs used for the medications, and these include Adderall, Concerta, Focalin, Ritalin, and Quillivant XR, which helps children focus their thoughts and ignore distractions. Some of them are for short durations, and others are for longer duration that has to be continued till the symptoms are brought under control. Your psychiatrist would be the best person to judge on this.

Also, children with ADHD would always require a safe environment and need all the support they can get from their peers and family. Constantly they have to be reminded that the family backs them and they have nothing to worry about. In most of the cases, these are as a result of a childhood trauma which the child would be unable to express in the physical term.