Experience of ADHD in children

[staybyyou]

DS has always been a bit of a tricky character but now he's 4 I'm starting to wonder if there is more to it. He's only just started school and as far as I'm aware he's doing well there, but at home he is such a handful. Lots of things are coming together, he is bouncing (literally) from the moment he wakes, talks a lot, needs a lot of adult input, can be physically over the top - struggles to stop when told 'no', not very cuddly, struggles with loud noises and transitions (drops offs or being 'rushed' out of the door), is obsessed with certain programs/characters, needs things 'just so' a lot of the time including clothing and toys and struggles to sit still. However if engaged and busy he's mostly fine, does enjoy writing and drawing, play doh, Lego etc so can sit if directed. He obviously has limited impulse control like some NT 4yos. Don't know if this is something diagnosable or if he's just a normal young boy who needs a lot of exercise....

If you have experience of ADHD or similar please could you share. I feel a bit lost and go between thinking he will just 'grow up' and wondering if it will become less manageable.

He's very talented at and absolutely loves cricket but the second he isn't hyperfocussed on batting he's cartwheeling or flossing on the field.

I shouldn't laugh but this is such a classic DD move.

Laugh away!
His coaches are now used to his crazy ways.

The gymnastics coaches weren't quite as understanding 🙄

DD got kicked out of two separate dance classes.

My son is 5 but he's just started school like your son and he behaves exactly the same loads of energy and is never tired after school even though most of his classmates are exhausted, he was the same at pre school. Tbh I also am in the same boat of wondering if he's just high energy or has ADHD but the school haven't complained about anything yet. I guess all we can do is wait and see I think ADHD is most likely to become an issue as they get older in school as they will be expected to sit and concentrate but if the teachers have no complaints everything must surely be ok

DS(5) is getting assessed for ADHD after school reported ADHD like behaviours, which we never saw at home. Ofcourse, hes not around other children his age at home so I was clueless in one sense.

But we both agree that DS's behaviour is like "theres a motor fitted at his leg" as he continuously moves! I was a bit shocked that the nhs assessment form had the same phrase on it.

Have you checked his hearing? My in-laws were convinced my son has ADHD… but actually he has glue ear and has auditory delay. We are teaching him to ‘listen’ as it’s a skill he hasn’t developed. He is also a very independent thinker, which made ages 2-5 more challenging.

APD (auditory processing disorder) is something that many children with ADHD and / or ASC have, but very possible to have without.

At the moment my son isn’t showing any traits that concern us or school but we will consider whether his delay is actually APD once his glue ear has eased.

@staybyyou He is on Elvanse, a slow release medication that lasts 10-12 hours.

Everything you say suggests ASD rather than ADHD to me - not very cuddly, struggles with loud noises and transitions (drops offs or being 'rushed' out of the door), is obsessed with certain programs/characters, needs things 'just so' a lot of the time including clothing and toys - and he sleeps far too much for ADHD
IMO! (All sounds exactly like my ds though who was much later diagnosed with ASD).

ADHD, ASD, dyspraxia, dyslexia etc are all linked and often run in families, we have dyslexia, dyspraxia and ASD in ours. With PDA (which falls under ASD) the anxiety is so great that kids struggle to do anything they are asked, I wonder though if he has processing issues which might be causing him problem, or major issues with executive function so just literally doesn't know where to start. Kids with PDA tend to be easily overwhelmed and have melt downs due to the anxiety, so if that isn't happening then my guess would be that it's ASD related rather than PDA.

This thread worries me as ds2 has all the diagnosed ADHD traits. I do agree in the OP case it sounds like ASD if that but not unusual behaviour for many 4yo.