ADHD or just normal 5 year old behaviour?

[Aries456]

I am not a massive fan of labels, but I have recently started to wonder if my 5 year old son might have ADHD. He has always been a bit hyper, especially when tired, but I always figured that all little boys are a bit hyper! However, i was reserching a couple of others things that pointed me in this direction:
He is very impulsive, frequently acting without thinking - often things like lashing out with a pinch if he is upset by someone. We have a lot of this at school.

Very emotional - cries and feels things intensely. This can be from someone saying they don't want to play, to me telling him we aren't doing something that day to bring told to get dressed.

Very sensitive to fabrics - we sometimes have meltdowns about wearing uncomfortable clothes or uniform with him saying "I can't do it, I can't do it!" Not sensitive to touch in general (he is very cuddly) or to pain (a grazed knee etc won't phase him).

In addition to the above, he rarely sits still. On the sofa he will want to climb it, hang upside down, shift position frequently. When he sits to eat dinner he will swing his legs lots. He can and does stop when I tell him to, it it often starts up again. None of the movements are like a twitch or particularly repetitive, he just seems to move all the time! If he is very tired he will sometimes just flop on the sofa and be fairly still I guess.

Having said all this, he will concentrate on stuff he likes, he likes sitting and listening to stories (although he will often try to fiddle with something) he is hugely empathetic and he loves being around people (which is why I don't feel he is on the Autisitc spectrum).

Does he sound like a normal little boy, (perhaps a little emotionally immature for his age) or is there something there I should be keeping an eye on? Thanks for reading - constructive comments only please! X

[SmartPlay]

"Does he sound like a normal little boy, (perhaps a little emotionally immature for his age) or is there something there I should be keeping an eye on?"

The problem with AHDH is, that it's basically a symptom-based diagnose, since there is nothing in the body than can be checked to decide "Yep, that kid has ADHD" - at least not yet.
At the same time the symptoms alone don't mean anything, because the same symptoms can be caused by how the child is being raised and by the child's daily life, in combination with it's personality.

[Fandabydosey]

My daughter is 20 she has ADHD. There are a few things you describe that would be a bit of a red flag. However I also have a 14 year old boy who was very physical/sensitive over active all the things at that age you are describing. If you are concerned sit down and make a list of the things that are concerning you, how often they happen and if something has triggered the behaviour. Then in September talk to the class teacher and ask for their input. 8 years old is pretty much the earliest age a child will be diagnosed because their attention skills are starting to become more developed. In the mean time cut down on technology TV and computer games as this trains their attention to be shorter.

[Aries456]

Thank you both. I could definitely work on cutting down Tv time (although right now he is outside introducing our tortoise to a quickly we he found and 'saved' on our walk) but it is his impulsive pinching etc thst happens mostly at school that I would like to help work on with him. Clothes wise, I make putting his uniform on a game otherwise he wouldn't put it on and his emotionality is something i am used to with him and dont mind supporting him through all that - but it is the lashing out that causes problems and I would like to help stop. It doesn't seem to matter how we react to it - try praise, rewards and stickers, or time-out and telling off, it doesn't really do anything because he is acting in the moment. He knows what he should/ shouldn't do and is always genuinely contrite after but in the moment, he just acts/ reacts on impulse so I don't quite know how to get through to him. My husband gets frustrated with him and just thinks he is naughty, but I honestly don't think that is the case as he is so lovely and compassionate most of the time. He does love praise and positive attention (like any child) but that doesn't alter his behaviour. Thanks for listening, will bring it up with his teacher after 1st term if there are still problems.

[Fandabydosey]

Ever had one of those tickle you can't ignore, you just have to scratch it, I guess it is the same sort of thing. I guess working on awareness of when it is going to happen helping him to recognise the very early signs and coming up with a strategy to redirect that frustration and anger. If it is ADHD the impulsiveness will never go away he will have to learn how to manage it. Does that make sense

[Aries456]

• introducing a woodlouse!

[Aries456]

Yes that does make sense. He had a lovely teacher in Reception who recognised trigger points in the day with him- namely unstructured play and lining up for things. I also noticed in his report it said he struggles to put up his hand and often blurts out answers - again just figured this is an excitable 5 year old but that also fits. I am actually a teacher - and of boys! - but secondary so by then it is pretty obvious is someone is ADHD, just don't have any experience this young. Prevention is probably best method here then, just recognise what is likely to cause trouble and do what we can to mange things as thry come. His new teacher seems lovely too so hopefully can work together on this one. Thanks.

[Fandabydosey]

What ever the outcome he has you to fight his corner and be his champion xx

[mumtoalovelyboy]

@Aries456 my son sounds exactly like yours, are you able to share an update? Xx