Has my 8 year old got ADHD?

[Kppml]

I'm looking for some help and advice, I have an 8 year old daughter and I'm struggling to cope with her outbursts of bad behaviour, and not sure if its 'normal' or just typical 8 year old stuff.
She is really intelligent, and always done well at school - despite the teachers commenting that she can be slow on tasks or easily distracted. She makes friends well and she is confident and sociable. She throws paddy's like a toddler where you can see a swtich just flick in her and its impossible to bring her back down, she I like a whirlwind through the house she gets out every single game and toy moving on to the next before she has spent any time playing with anything. She doesn't follow simple instructions like 'get ready for school' i need to tell her task by task or she forgets what she needs to do. She is constantly moving, even sat watching a film or eating she bounces around, she also struggles to fall asleep at night and can sometimes be awake in her room for hours - although when asleep she does sleep in if I let her. She interrupts conversations and seams to crave attention.
Just wondering what people's thoughts are - I'm struggling.

Hard to say, but as a professional who works in this area, sounds like she might benefit from an assessment if you're concerned 💕

What sort of help would an assessment result in, as when I've been reading up the only thing I can see is medication- this is not something I want to do. We are currently trying reward charts and healthy food and less sugar in the diet to see if that makes any difference.

Hi, any child's misbehaviour is usually a coping mechanism to deal with either overwhelming feelings in her or she feels there is something missing so she misbehaves to get what she thinks it missing. Usually it has to do with attention, as in they need attention and any attention (even negative) will do. Sometimes she may not feel capable to do a task or how to cope in a situation which then makes her 'misbehave' to cope with the possible feelings created. Feeling like she counts in the family and in relationship with others is also an important one and the last one is to have courage. She may feel she cannot face certain situations as she feels she cannot cope. All of these important skills may be lacking in some way and she copes by misbehaving. I have some suggestions on how to help with those 4 key points, so do make contact if you would like some suggestions.

Try those Omega 3 gummies or similar children's omega 3 supplements I did find my son calmer after we started giving him those... we did the same, cut back on sugar, healthier diet etc. Good luck, it is worrying but no harm in an assessment either, they might put your mind at rest. My son sounds similar to your daughter but I have noticed he's calmed down a bit the last 6 months... he does need alot of exercise too bless him!

@Kppml sorry, have only just seen your reply. If you don't want to go down the medication route there are lots of other therapy and support options available for a child with a diagnosis. Just having a diagnosis can open doors in terms of support networks and interventions, as well as causing teachers to be more understanding of behavioural needs. It can also help a child as they get older to know that they behave in a certain way because they have ADHD, and that they can't help it. Sadly lots of children with undiagnosed ADHD just grow up feeling naughty, annoying and a bit of a nuisance 😔

@Kppml as well as professionally, I speak from experience with a sister who was diagnosed in her late teen years/early adulthood. She has found the diagnosis extremely helpful after a childhood of being treated as naughty and difficult, particularly in school. Her poor attention and hyperactivity were seen as deliberate disobedience by most, especially in secondary school, and she wishes she had been diagnosed much earlier.

@Tucancrossing thank you so much, this has really helped

My DD has a few of the traits you’ve mentioned @Kppml

She needs to be reminded step by step of what to do, for example - in the morning she will come into the living room and put the tele on without using the bathroom first. I have to ask her to use the bathroom and freshen up before settling in front of the tv.

Before bed - she will just get straight into bed rather than going to use the bathroom and brushing her teeth.

If I’m having a conversation with someone she will cut through, not always but enough times that it’s become noticeable.