How do I know whether my child may have ADHD and not just being hyperactive?

It is common foe children to be full of energy and always moving around. To be diagnosed with Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a child will display symptoms of one of the three types of ADHD. The symptoms for each type include (taken from http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/types-of-adhd) Inattentive type (child must display six out of nine symptoms) - Not paying attention to detail - Making careless mistakes - Failing to pay attention and keep on task - Not listening - Being unable to follow or understand instructions - Avoiding tasks that involve effort - Being distracted - Being forgetful - Losing things that are needed to complete tasks Hyperactive-impulsive type (child must display six out of nine symptoms) - Fidgeting - Squirming - Getting up often when seated - Running or climbing at inappropriate times - Having trouble playing quietly - Talking too much - Talking out of turn or blurting out - Interrupting - Often “on the go” as if “driven by a motor” Combined type (Shows symptoms of both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive types) In general, the key point to note in trying to figure out if a child has ADHD is whether or not he/she suffers any impairment in their ability to inhibit and control impulses, which often affects his/her learning or function. For example, a chld with ADHD finds it difficult to process information. He/she is unable to “slow down” to take in the information. This poses as an issue in the classroom since children are expected to make sense of the information within a short period of time. Another common problem a child with ADHD faces is a struggle with execution functions such as organizing, planning, prioritizing, paying attention to and remembering details. A child with ADHD often also becomes easily overwhelmed and frustrated, and has trouble regulating their emotions. To sum up, if your child is energetic and have difficulty sitting still, but is still able to control his/her impulses and emotions, pay attention and respond appropriately in school and to others, it is unlikely that he/she has ADHD. If you suspect your child of having ADHD, consult a doctor or psychologist or psychiatrist for a formal evaluation. For more information, you can refer to this article: http://add.about.com/od/adhdthebasics/f/How-Do-You-Tell-The-Difference-Between-An-Energetic-Child-And-One-With-Adhd.htm

i second the above suggestion to just bring the child to a specialist for proper assessment. but it is possible that children are just being full of energy because the way children uses their energy is different form adults. they use their energy in a burst mode until it is totally depleted, then they rest then they are ready to go burst mode again (u can observe this in the way children play in teh playground or fields) it is different from the way adults uses our energy because we have muscle endurance and uses our energy in a moderate mode over a longer period of time. so it ur child is have many of energy burst and u can't catch up, it is highly likely to be normal :) a characteristic of adhd child is that the child is the only one doing different from the rest of the class - e.g. rolling on the floor and jumping around while the rest of the children are all sitted with the teacher

Please do not self diagnose or label your child. If you feel uneasy, take him to a specialist and let them do the assessment. Its hard to differentiate between both. Ill say let the experts handle it.

Just for your peace of mind, you may take her to a Developmental Pediatrician :)

It would need to be diagnosed by a doctor. Also depends on age.

thanks