How did ADHD present in your 5,6,7,8 year old daughter?

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Firstly please move if not in correct place, I wasn't sure where to post.

DD is just 7 and her DF has diagnosed adhd. I question if I have but a diagnosis is pointless as I'm slight or have learnt to cope.

DD talks non stop from the moment she wakes.
At school is overly compliant.
Cries if a teacher talks in some tones (if she tells the class off) or if she tells DD to sit still which she mostly does at school.
Constantly jigging legs.
Can not cope with change.
Does not cope well in new environments.
Can get wild very very easily and will struggle to calm / settle.
VERY sensitive to others and their needs.
VERY emotional.
Shows signs of anxiety (please know I never use this word or any of the above points around her as I think we can make children behave certain ways and I am 100% not going to do that).

Since going back to school in January she has just not been the same. She's never 'loved' school but she used to like going.
She cries most mornings and doesn't sleep easily now at night time.
Since the Easter break it's been 100 times worse.

Teachers say she is fine when there and she comes out ok too.

I am reaching out to see if this fits with any ADHD girls at this age. Makes no difference either way as I know there's nowhere near enough for a diagnosis / help.

If anyone has ideas please share. I've tried bribes of treats, reward charts, toys, talks, explanations and nothing works so I've stopped as it was highlighting the issue and also it's not right she doesn't get a treat when I know it's genuine and she can't help it.

Thanx for reading.

My DD is 10 now and displayed most of the above symptoms. Began at about 8 and got more and more pronounced. She has been diagnosed with both ADHD and autism. I wouldn’t write off anxiety either, she was also diagnosed with moderate anxiety and depression. She is on a reduced timetable at school. We haven’t cracked it yet but the main thing I’m glad we did was to listen to her and believe her when she said she couldn’t go in. Best of luck with your DD.

Also meant to say she had two or three very specific interests and would hyper focus in on those. She also started to struggle with friendships at that age, thought other children didn’t like her and became very sensitive to criticism or any perceived slight.

ADHD or not she is struggling and it’s can be a difficult age.
Have you thought about or looked into a sensory room. Could turn her bedroom into one. Google sensory swing, sensory light and sensory toys.

If she is not allergic try lavender room stay and for her pillows, can get lavender washing powder and softener for her clothes and bedding. Also lavender bath bubbles and moisturiser which Johnson’s do nice ones for babies and wouldn’t harm your child’s skin

I know most use it for babies but would white/brown/pink noise at bedtime work or a yoto player

Could try moving her bedroom around to feel like a fresh start with new bedding and Pajamas

Speak to the gp but people have raved about magnesium ? Kalms which are herbal and you can get stickers that are supposed to aid sleep in children. Also you can get roll on calming liquid which you out on your temples and wrists to help with relaxing which again all need to be checked with the doctor first but may be worth a try even if it’s a placebo effect.

Perhaps if you can get her to relax more and more settled she may be less tearful about school. I feel for you OP it sounds really hard for you both.

My 15 year old daughter has adhd. From she walked at 10 months she never stopped! Not hyper as such but very physical and short attention span- never wanted to watch tv for long periods of time.
socially anxious- hated birthday parties.
emotional and easily upset.
Wasn’t diagnosed until 11. Up to then managed with 18 hours a week of gymnastics and then lock down hit!

You do have enough to request a referral through school. Has she tried weighted lap blanket or wobble cushion to sit on? Or a wobble board to rest her feet on under the desk at school?

I have a 5 year old son with ADHD diagnosis and he is everything on your list EXCEPT for compliant in school.

Anxiety is massively linked to both ADHD and autism (my son has both). It can be quite debilitating. But random, but I'd request a blood test for her. My son is low in iron (and I'm struggling to get it up), and I've read an interesting article that correlates low iron with ADHD (it is also known to link to anxiety). We also give our son Magnesium supplements as research suggests there is a link between low Magnesium and ADHD, and fish oil supplement, plus a probiotic. No idea if any of it is having an impact tbh!