How can you tell the difference between an excitable 5yo boy and one with ADHD??

[juicy12]

I mean without having had a formal dx. DS has always been really excitable, but now he's a couple of months off 6, i can't ignore any longer that I feel that it could be more than just excitable-ness. He had glue ear about a yr ago and has grommets, so hearing is OK (which did lead to behavourial issues pre-grommets.) He's prone to screeching and making screaming noises for no reason, jumps on the furniture, often talks in a baby voice (although I can't work out if this is just to amuse his younger sister) and makes up words - goo goo gah gah being a favourite. If he has a friend round, I usually end up having to get him on his own just to calm down as he gets quite hysterical. I'm ashamed to say that I'm now at a stage where we don't tend to invite people round, cos I do get embarrassed by his behaviour . However, DH says there is nothing wrong and he's just an excitable little boy and that I have no experience of boys (no brothers, nephews etc). So, how do you know if there's something actually wrong? Feeling very

Sounds like my son at that age - he's now 17. He used to make silly noises and keep saying the same silly phrases. He had delayed speech and glue ear but not bad enough for grommets.

I expected him to be diagnosed with something but it turns out he's just about 'normal'! HE was lively but generally well behaved. Had no trouble on airplanes, restaurants etc. If he's generally well behaved but just gets excitable don't think it's ADHD.

Just remember 'normal' covers a huge spectrum of behaviour. If a child is on the 'quiet' end of the spectrum it's not considered a problem. But if your child is lively it's easy to think there's something wrong with them.

MY son still makes silly noises. It's like he does it to make sure everything all still in working order!

Thank you both for replying. School have never mentioned having any concerns, other than him being a "little too chatty" sometimes, but that doesn't worry me really. He also doesn't have problems with concentrating on precise things - loves building lego models for example. I think having a word with his teacher re my concerns is a good idea. Good to hear both your DSs have done similar things. It is hard, on the one hand, I don't want to go looking for problems where they don't exist and on the other, I don't want to miss anything obvious. Will start with the teacher. Thank you, ladies!

Have a word with the teacher at it will probably put your mind at rest. He must be halfway through year one by now - if they thought he has ADHD or similar I think it would have been brought to your attention by now.

oh and it took my DD six months to work out that our neighbours had got hens and a cockerel............she just thought it was DS making noises! He was 16 at the time!

at the cockerel 2old4thislark!!