4yr old boy. Could this be adhd?

[Giraffe888]

My son was 4 in July. He went to school nursery last year and struggled mainly in an afternoon.

he started reception in September and has been absolutely fine until last week where the problems have started.

his main symptoms are

• he’s impulsive and ‘lashes out’ without thinking. For example if someone does something he doesn’t like he will hit them on the arm or push them
• he’s very heavy handed when he’s playing. So it looks as though he’s trying to hurt someone when he’s just playing
• his teacher said he keeps doing things to get her attention like tapping her
• he used to have extreme emotional meltdowns but these have improved a lot in the last 6 months. But he does have them where he ‘loses it’ and takes a while to calm down.
• he can be very loud and full on and gets very giddy and excited.
• He really struggles when he is tired. He goes to sleep fine and sleeps well but is often up at 4am.

he has no issues with his school work and concentration and he enjoys his learning.

I’m so worried about him and worried that others are going to think he’s a naughty child. Can anyone offer any advice on if this does sound like adhd or something else?

Your list could be signs of ADHD, but they could also be signs of other things such as sensory processing difficulties or they could be nothing. Have you spoken to the school?

@BlueBrick yes I’ve spoken to his teacher a few times this week and she’s trying to implement things to help him. Like in an afternoon he’s getting taken to a nurture group of a few children to have a break away from the classroom.

I think only time will tell if it’s just an age thing or something more? I just wondered if anyone had any experience or advice

Ask to speak to the SENCO. Whether it is ADHD, something else or nothing DS requires more support than he is currently receiving.

Do you have any sensory equipment or a trampoline at home? Have a look at some of the suggestions in this booklet and on this website.

He doesn't have problem with attention, as you said. Can you elaborate?

The symptoms you described are only part of being ADHD, but ADHD is a lot more than these. Without a thorough understanding, the speculation about ADHD is not going to help.

Maybe try to get professionals involved - ask GP for a referral or just go private finding an educational psychologist. At this age, it's extremely difficult to have a clear diagnosis still, as they are still so young. And, their body and brain are still undergoing dramatic changes...