| ADHD Directory |
| ADHD Printables |
| ADHD Webinars |
| ADHD Guides |
| Expert Answers |
| ADHD News |
| Tools and Checklists |
| ADHD Topics A-Z |
| Book Reviews |
 |
| ADHD Groups |
| ADHD Discussions |
| ADHD Blogs |
| Share Your Story |
| E-Newsletters |
| ADHD Events |
| ADHD Videos |
|
| Subscribe |
| Give a Gift |
| Current Issue |
| Digital |
| Archives |
| Buy Back Issues |
| Buy Booklets |
| Customer Service |
| Contact Us |
| Advertise |
ADHD or Just Hyperactive?Filed Under: Diagnosing Children with ADHD
Q:
"My six-year-old was diagnosed with ADHD, but I'm not sure she has all the traits. She can pay attention and gets very good grades - she just cannot sit still in class. Is there such a thing as just "hyperactivity disorder"? 
A:
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders recognizes three subtypes of ADHD: primarily inattentive, primarily hyperactive, and combined type. ADHD cannot be the diagnosis if the only behavior is hyperactivity, especially if the hyperactivity occurs during specific situations. If she's only hyperactive during class, this might be due to anxiety, or perhaps she's not being challenged by the work and gets bored. I'd discuss your concern with the doctor, and look for other causes of the hyperactivity.
Larry Silver, M.D., is the author of Dr. Larry Silver's Advice to Parents on AD/HD and The Misunderstood Child: Understanding and Coping with Your Child's Learning Disabilities. He is also a clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
|
|
Print
