Constant hyper 4 year old ADHD?

[Lauz1786]

Hi guys

I'm after a bit of advice and see what you all think. My son is 4 years old and has always been a hyper kid. He is due to start school
In sept and I'm worried that he may have ADHD. I feel like I can't talk to my hubby about it as he thinks I'm being rediculous and says he's "just a boy" plus he works a lot so isn't around for the bad days but I just feels there's something else. His symptoms are:

1.Constantly talking, running and climbing.
2.Zoning out at random times for about 2 mins
3.throwing toys down stairs (for fun)
4.not listening to instructions at home and nursery

1. As soon as he wakes up he's full of energy and constantly on the go
   

6.laughs when being told off
7.fast talking
8.spontaneous random behaviour such as running into roads, putting toys into bins
9.difficult falling asleep/staying in bed
10. Doesn't pay attention to story's being read to him he well interupt me reading and change his mind
11.spitting to get attention
12. Doesn't take part in group activities at nursery would rather play alone or with one other.

I'm exhausted just watching him any tips and advice would be appreciated I've rang the docs but have to call back in morning for a apt.

Thank you

[BuddhaBelly]

My DS (6) was diagnosed two months ago with ADHD but flags were raised at nursery and his behaviour was very like you have described. Our DS was referred at start of school so he was 4 but it has been a huge battle to get this far. Speak to GP and they will do a referral to CAHMS. Good luck

[triballeader]

My son was formally diagnosed with ADHD by tier 3 CAHMS at 18 months old. At the time he was the second most hyperactive child they had encountered in the Midlands region.

The best way I can describe it is that a child with ADHD does things which all children do. The trouble is they do it far more, struggle to learn from what they do and tend to take it far further than a child of the same age.

As an example all small boys climb and run. What made my son stand out to CAHMS was his ability at 18 months to pick locks and solve key codes. He was impossible to keep in the house and he escaped from his assessments in a secure clinic. He climbed out of windows, got onto roofs and ran across them like a cat.
He tended to hyper-focus and persist at something that caught his attention and did not respond to any efforts to divert him. That is one of lesser known oddities of ADHD.
Instead of toys down the stairs he threw himself over the bannister at the top of the stairs and laughed. He did not have a sense of danger and risks did not scare him. He seemed to view everything as a challenge to take on.
He never slept. At most he managed 4 hours in 24 and that was with drugs from CAHMS.
His attention would leapfrog causing him real difficulties in learning all new skills. That in turn lead to horrendous frustration tantrums as his little body would not keep up with the speed his mind was going at.

One of the most hopeful books I read was Dr Christopher Green's 'Understanding A. D. H. D. A Parent's Guide to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children'. It was published in 1997 so its a bit old but its hopeful, offers helpful suggestions to tired parents and gives advice on both managing that normal lively boy stage and telling when its time to seek serious help.

Many lively boys begin to settle once they start school and new experiences tire them out. If ADHD is evident the school will be the ones flagging concerns to you. My son initially went via the Child Development Center as he stood out to his HV from birth. That was a far quicker route than only going via CAHMS. The CDC is a good route as they carry weight with local education authorities if extra support in school is needed. They helped my son gain a statement by the time he was 2 which provided a supportive special needs nursary allowing him to succesfully integrate into an inclusive mainstream school.

Hope none of the accessing help bit is needed. All the best.