How do I know if my child has ADHD?

[Hairyhat]

He's 6. He doesn't seem able to concentrate or certainly not for a sustained amount of time. He is always getting into trouble at school for distributive type behaviour. He doesn't always seem to be there if that makes any sense? He's sweet and kind and he knows right from wrong. I discipline him but he doesn't seem able to control himself.
Can anyone help? Is this normal? Or a phase?

That should read "disruptive" behaviour

Bump

Anyone know if I should be posting this somewhere else?

Anyone?

Does he get frustrated when he is doing his work at school?

Take a look at the NHS choices website and the symptoms.

It's worth speaking to the school to see if they noticed anything.

Then, GP if necessary.

You probably should have posted in SN

See diagnosis criteria NHS

For a diagnosis to be made there has to be difficulty in more than one area of life ie home and school. To a certain extent the symptoms of ADHD are those behaviours commonly found in small children and a lot of doctors won't dx until 7 yo.

Do you have any other children? Is he noticeably different from his friends? Have you spoken to the SENCO at school? If not I would do that first because you need them on side.

We have an adult DC dx at 7 yo, so when our DD started showing signs at 3 we knew she was affected. We were referred when she was 6 but the doctor said there wasn't anything wrong with her. A year later we were referred to somebody else and she was dx immediately.

I went to the GP and asked for a referral. The GP asked for a report from school to back it up, because she said they take more notice of another professional, so that was sent in with the GP report. Be warned the process is incredibly slow and months go by with nothing happening.

HTH

Sorry, just re-read your post

Take the symptoms to the school, see what they say and if they see the same thing as you

I second what Ewan said. My DS was diagnosed at 7, after his teachers said he was struggling severely to concentrate and it was affecting his schoolwork. Went to the gp, he referred us to CAMHS. 22 week waiting list but they have been brilliant. I had to fill in a huge questionnaire and the school had to do a questionnaire and a report. He is now on medication and finds it a LOT easier to focus. Although he's still a kid (10) and the pills aren't made of magic, so it ain't perfect! 😁

Good luck OP

Oh thank you everyone for all your replies. The school is tiny and has had a high turnover of teachers that's why I felt the current one (who hardly knows him) might not see a similar pattern. Yes he struggles to concentrate but I wi see if it's to do with him disliking having to settle down and work or something else. He's noticeably different to his peers but he's the youngest as well. No I have no other children

Sorry for my typos

I've read the NHS symptoms and diagnosis. Very useful. He has all of the listed symptoms except he seems able to form friendships ok (I think). He is kind too. (Maybe able to feel empathy). So perhaps I'm jumping the gun. When he's had a teacher for a long time I will ask them for opinion. The one he has now is brand new and he's leaving in July

He's definitely hyperactive though. Not just ADD