Can My Son Be Diagnosed with ADD/ADHD at the Age of 4

Hi, I hope I'm not repeating anything. I read most of the responses but not all. I agree w/ Dorothy T and Donna H.

1. Get some type of therapy help now. If I had started earlier my son would have had less problems w/ his confidence and social challenges.
2. Know that you are blessed w/ an exceptional child. You just have to find the best way to work w/ him. Most ADHD kids are intelligent.

My favorite doctor is Dr. Sheri Siegle. Her office is in west Marietta. She very thorough and gives great referrals. Many of them were free.

Its too early for full testing whether you choose the drugs or not. My son is 7 1/2 now but between age 3-6 I wore my self out trying to help him w/o getting him in to a program that would help. His pediatrician and the pamphlet they had at the doctors office didn't help b/c some ADHD children don't show signs when their watching TV or video games. My son just finished 1st grade. He made the honor roll and exceeded the standards for the state testing.

Best Wishes

I'm a retired teacher. The students are diagnosed with ADD or ADHD when they are in the first grade.
P. S

How much sleep does he get. It's been researched that children who do not get enough sleep exhibit symptoms of add/adhd and so much could be fixed with more sleep.

Sounds like a normal little boy to me and anyone that asked you that question can't have ever raised one. We have one daughter and two sons. My oldest son is 21 and my youngest son is three, our daughter is in the middle, she's 18. Having already raised one son, I can tell you they are very different from girls. My boys have always been wide open. There is no volume control switch or no high speed or low, there is only loud, fast and asleep. I'm not saying it's easy, but it is normal and don't let anyone try to tell you differently. They do grow up and they do calm down and then you will miss them being little. Enjoy your little boy and rest when you can.

I know exactly what your going through. My son was diagnosed with ADHD at age 4. He was evaluated at Developmental Pediatrics off of Farrow Road. His daddy's side of the family has ADHD. His daddy, his grandmother, and several of his uncles. I knew it wasn't just a typical 4 year old behaivor b/c he is just all over the place. He can't stay focused and he is extremely hyper. His teachers in his preschool class admit he is the one child they have to keep their eye on and devote a little more attention too b/c of his attention span. However, they didn't think I should give him medication until he was at least 5. I have been holding off on the medication b/c he is so young but I am certain I will have to start giving it to him once he reaches Kindergarten. My husband said he had a really hard time in school b/c of it. I hope that Tyler will not have the same problems now that they have different medicines. I just want to be sure I'm giving him something safe. So, yes, I truly beleive children that young can be diagnosed with ADHD. Some people may disagree but all I have to say to them is take my son for a few hours and see if you don't change your tune.

For young children, crazy is actually pretty normal. I'll bet I could put that on kid-size t-shirts and make a fortune.

Well, it certainly isn't too young for you to notice that he's a little "more" than the typical 4-year-old. And you should use that to help guide your decisions about what activites you want to him to do and what kind of daycare provider and school you'll want to enroll him in. Kids that lean to the ADD/ADHD side of the spectrum are often happy when they get plenty of time outdoors (hence the expression "Nature Deficit Disorder" - some ADD/ADHD kids miraculously recover once they get outdoors and spend time climbing trees and rolling down hills). And some ADD/ADHD kids can handle having more outside activities than the average kid, they may not get as easily overwhelmed when you "keep 'em busy." Depends on the kid, though.

If you suspect he's more hyper than his peers, he may have a difficult time adapting to a very structured classroom. My kid is a bit like that, and I found a school that has a child-centered curriculum (i.e. they give kids lot of choices about the kinds of things they want to learn about) and PLENTY of time outdoors, some structured, some freeplay. You may not have many choices, but maybe when he starts school you can talk to the principal about his learning style and it may help him/her place him with the most appropriate teacher. (Hopefully a talented one that can creatively redirect his energies, skillfully harness his need for stimulation, rather than just try to break his spirit by focusing too much on compliance or obedience, or lack thereof.)

One person suggested that her granddaughter will be pushed to start kindergarten a little early. But you may want to consider going the other way. When my son was 4 and in preschool, he was always the youngest (and BY FAR the shortest) kid in the class, and he was sometimes not "internalizing the classroom expectations" (according to the principal). Not "misbehaving", just not remembering the routine, and having difficulties completing tasks independently if he had no interest in them. ("Well, yeah. Is that really unusual? For 4? I often find it difficult as an adult!") His two best friends were on the other side of the cutoff, so I suggested holding him back in preschool one more year to give him a little more time to mature. The teachers, principal, my husband all said no, he's too smart, he'll get bored, etc. (I don't want to sound smug, but the kid is "smarter than the average bear", to quote Yogi Bear). But being smart and acting mature

But once he was in kindergarten, he had a real hard time. Not because of any of the "academic" parts (to the extent that kindergarten is "academic"), but because he had a difficult time sitting still and listening to the teacher unless it was something he was very interested in. (When the mobile science lab visited, they had his rapt attention.) So even though he's plenty smart, I decided to have him repeat kindergarten, although I had
to be more assertive than I had been the year before. I had to have a few conversations with the teacher and principal on the best way to do it so he wouldn't get bored. (Like giving him extra responsibilities to challenge him, rather than just "more of the same" work.)

Another thing that has helped is that I found a wonderful kid's Aikido program. (Don't know your location, but the Roswell Budokan, north of Atlanta, is great for kids.) It's a nice balance of actiivity and having to practice sitting still and listening to the sensai. And it helped him tremendously when he had to sit still through wedding ceremony last month. He was surrounded by his classmates (the teacher was the bride) and he decided on his own to sit in "sezai position", (the one they use in class when the kids are supposed to watch the next technique). He had amazing self-control throughout the ceremony. I KNOW that was the Aikido.

So, carefully choose activities, make sure he gets lots of activities, especially outdoors and interacting with nature, plenty of rest, good nutrition, and careful selection of schools. (Or at least good communication with teachers and principals).

My cousin's son has also had some issues, and they diagnosed/labeled/possibly mislabeled him before he even started kindergarten, around age 4, although I've never seen him act unusually rambunctious. (More than what is "typical", but still well within "normal"). They went the medication route, and maybe it's for the best, but whenever I see him, he just looks like he's stoned. My sister and even my 13-year-old niece think so, too.
It's actually a little disturbing, so I'm trying everything I can to avoid having to go the medication route, including repeating a grade.

I can forward you some information via a private message with some recommendations for doctors or specialists that may be able to help, too. Not necessarily medicate, but to recommend strategies to help him succeed.

Dear BD,

I have limited time to reply but saw your post and wanted to tell you to go to www.askdrsears.com. He talkes about nutritional deficit disorder NDD, causing symptoms similar to ADD/ADHD. also take a look at the quantity and quality of his sleep. Any child with even minimal sleep deprivation will exibit symptoms of ADD/ADHD but not really have the disorder. Hope this helps. Keep us posted.

GM

My son is 4 1/2 and he is very "active" too. I know that it sounds like a pain, but remove all sugars and most "white" carbs from your home. Yes you can still eat it when he is not around, but the only way he will do it is if he doesn't see you guys eathing "bad" stuff. Do not tell him that it is a change you are making because of him. Tell him that you all want to be more healthy. You can use food ideas from the South Beach diet concept. He may not go for things at first, but he won't starve himself long. I promise you that this will make an improvment for you. I am not a food freak I promise. All the best.

technically there is only ADHD now, no ADD anymore they changed categorization. I would definatedly seek multiple opinions as this is often overdiagnosed. Also, many people do not realize that depression and anxiety in often display similar signs in children and young adults. I think that it is too early to diagnose your child with ANYTHING to be honest. I have worked with a variety of children who have different emotional and behavioral problems for years. If you are concerned, again, I would seek multiple opinions from board certified physicians and therapists. Best of Luck.

Hi B.D. From the time my daughter was a young child until she was finally diagnosed a long time after, she was always labeled "hyper" and she sounded just your little boy Her diagnoses - thyroid out of balance - hyperthyroid. Since she's been treated, she is much much better. Don't know if this is the case with your little boy, but just wanted to share this with you just in case.

Four was about the age we started noticing unusually aggressive behavior in our elder son (now six), related to low impulse control. We had him tested by a psychological group after his fifth birthday and it appears he has mild to moderate combined type AD/HD. We go to social skills training at a place called Beyond Words. He also goes to a play therapist. He is not on medication. We just got through a year of Kindergarten doing well academically, and okay socially for the most part.

There is a lot that goes into a diagnosis of AD/HD. I would give your son a few years before you even consider testing him.

All young boys require the space and time to move around. Asking them to sit still for long periods of time simply isn't going to work for most boys that age. I am reading a good book right now, recommended by the play therapist, called "How to Behave So Your Preschooler Will Too," by Sal Severe (there's also a book for older children). I agree that "Raising Your Spirited Child" by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka is also a good book. If you do want to investigate the AD/HD angle, read "Taking Charge of AD/HD" by Russell Barkley. He's the foremost scientific reseacher of the subject and his book is an excellent place to start.

The psychologist that we were seeing (years ago) told us that they really couldn't "test" my son for ADD/ADHD until the age of 6. But, he had a pretty good idea by then that my son was indeed AD/HD. The testing later just confirmed it.

Usually kids don't get diagnosed until around five or six once they start school where adhd and add show the inattentiveness and lack of focus most prevalently. However, as the mom of two kids with adhd, I knew there was something different even when I was pregnant with my daughter who moved constantly in my womb! She must have been pretending to play soccer or running a marathon the whole time I was expecting. She has not slowed down since. At nearly ten years old she constantly talks or screams/sings opera and is in motion even when asleep. If she does not take her meds which I give her on school days, she is like the energizer bunny. It is tiring as a parent but never boring! The blessing of it all is that she is a gifted creative writer (won and award for this at school twice), has wonderful artistic abilities at painting and drawing, and she has the best tone of any of the kids in her strings class (learning to play cello and violin). So, don't be discouraged if your son is showing signs of adhd at an early age because the sooner you know what you are dealing with and can get all the facts, the better. My son showed many signs as well and was diagnosed in October of this past year during his k5 year at school. After going on meds just while in school he went from getting notes sent home nearly every day to getting his good behavior sticker every day since that time and winning an award for being a quiet helper and good listener, a total turnaround! My advice to you is that you don't wait to mention it to the pediatrician. Make sure you have one who knows how to diagnose and treat adhd. They can watch for signs and have his teachers fill out special forms to evaluate his behavior once he starts school. The other thing is make sure you praise good behavior and realize kids will be kids. At four we all acted a liitle hyper, so don't worry. Also, I celebrate the blessings of creativity and keep plenty of art supplies and musical instruments in our home for my kids to explore. They wear me out each day, but the journey we are on will lead us to some great things ahead! God bless you and your little energizer bunny. He may be a famous artist or musician or an emergency room doctor some day! Also, remember you aren't alone. There are lots of us out ther dealing with adhd kids every day, so we know what you are going through, even when you get those scowls from folks who haven't been blessed with the great responsibility of raising a child with adhd. God knew you had something special about you when He placed your child in your care, so know that you can do it! Let us know how things are going and best wishes to you and yours.

A 4 yr old that can't sit still is a 4 yr old being a 4 yr old.
I have a 7 yr old ADHD girl.
He may be ADHD but I'd hesitate to put that label on him.
Most Drs won't diagnose ADD/ ADHD until 7 yrs old.
I'd recommend going to the book store and picking up 2 books, Raising the difficult child ( this is a disapline system ) , and Raising your spirited child ( this is a how's and why's book).

He may need some kind of sport or daily outside time , maybe running in the sprinkler , trip to the park, or swimming pool.

Some kids just have a lot of energy. That is just how God made them. :) Look at his diet and see if there are some changes that maybe you want to make. Some examples: less sugar, no soda, eat less (or no) animals & animal products (this can make a huge difference for children & adults in overall health), more food that has been grown & not processed. Also,get him outside and let him run and play as much as possible. I know many moms, like myself, who use only non-toxic cleaning & personal care items in the home. You said he will not listen. Check your parenting style as all children are not alike. Many times what works for one will not work for another. Just like snowflakes they are all different. :) You may need to adjust your techniques with him. I urge you to try everything before going the route of ADD or ADHD medicines. M.

People have asked me this about my son for the past two years. Maybe it's just being a boy?? I just stay on top of him NON-STOP with correcting his behavior, telling him what's appropriate and not appropriate.

I am embracing his precociousness, encouraging and requiring that he do the right thing and seeing where that takes us! It's not easy, but at least he isn't isn't an introvert!

Good luck.

Hello,

My son is also 4 and we tend to have the same problems. Plus he has a lot of frustration issues that cause alot of screaming and hollering around here. We are learning how to communicate and change our parenting ways. However I did put him in play therapy and his wonderful therapist suggested that he may have other issues. So i am moving forwarded on having him tested on the county level to see if they can help. But please what ever you do. Do not allow them to label him and do not allow anyone to give him any medicine at this age. Good luck I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in this big world.

It's possible. You could ask your doctor. My daughter is ADD and was diagnosed at age 10. Her attention got progressively worse as school material got harder. I have a son that could be ADHD. When he was age 3-4 in preschool, his teacher said he could not pay attention and she must have said, "I hope it gets better 20 times during our P/T conference." The next year in Pre-K in a different environment, different teacher, and a year older, he did better. I'd be leary about getting a diagnosis too soon, and I don't think I'd want to introduce meds until you absolutely have to. You could check his diet to see if there are certain things making him hyperactive. He may be really sensitive to sugar or certain food dyes. Just a thought.

It could be possible, but I would wait on that diagnosis. Perhaps, his sleep is getting interrupted by something and he's not getting in his 10 - 13 hours of sleep a day. Does he nap well? Best of luck to you, dear!

My first born was exactly like that and everyone who was around him asked me the same thing because he would go all day without setting down and he would not listen to a thing that you said, which really exhausted me. As he got older he got a lot calmer!! He is still full of energy but he focuses that energy on doing the things that he loves like school, skateboarding, and football and there is not a lazy bone in that child's body. My second child was the total opposite and he was to me the perfect child because he was very calm and laid back and he would sit and play and allow me to get the things done that needed to be done. He is 9 and had a lot of problems in school because he could not focus. He does not like to do any kind of sports or activities except for watching tv. I have to make him get up to go out and play or do any kind of activity. Last year he was diagnosed with ADD and I have him on natural supplements for it and he is doing so well in school now. He is a great kid and he is still what most people would call lazy and he is a child who I have to constantly try to motivate to do anything!! I now have a 5 year old little girl that is exactly like her older brother and I don't know if she will end up with ADD like my middle son or if she is just full of energy like her older brother but at the moment I am thankful that she is full of energy so that maybe she will end up just like her older bother and stay very active because it is a lot harder to raise a child who doesn't want to do anything. If I was you I would give it time and just deal with it until he is in school and then if he shows signs like not paying attention because he can't sit still or not being able to focus then I would have him tested but not until then because you never know you might just have a child who right know is hard to deal with because he has way to much energy but may turn out to just be a child that is strong willed and who will keep himself so involved in things that can eventually keep him out of trouble when he grows up!!

I also wanted to let you know when my son was diagnosed with ADD by an ADD/ADHD doctor we went through several different medications and I was not satisfied with the medications because they were changing his moods, attitude, and keeping him in a trans like state and that started to really scare me so I decided to rearch his medications and ADD/ADHD and found several helpful and great websites one was even put out by a doctor who explains that you can help your child without doctor prescribed medication. You can change the way an ADD/ADHD child reacts by simply changing the foods they eat and adding fish oil to their diets. There is even natural medicines out there that can help. I changed the food that my son was eating, added the fish oil, and I gave him a natural supplement that is called "The Attentive child" by Source Naturals that I got from my local natural food store called Garners. After a month of doing this he was a changed kid who was able to focus without changing his moods or attitude and I can not tell you what a change that has made in our lifes!! So when he does start regular school and if he ends up showing signs of ADD/ADHD I would strongly recommend you doing your research before you put him on any kind of medication!! I hope that this helps you and good luck!!

In order to be diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, your son must show at least 6 symptoms, all of which have persisted for more than 6 months and are atypical of his develomental stage. It sounds like he's got at least 6 symptoms; however I'm not sure that this isn't typical for 4 year old boys.

I would recommend you think about small changes you can make, such as reducing the sugar in his diet, allowing him to do more difficult tasks that require concentration in the morning, and making sure he gets plenty of exercise, before you pursue treatment from a physician and put him on meds. He's way too young to be taking ADD meds, and he'll probably grow out of this.

You can see the diagnostic criteria here: http://edschool.csuhayward.edu/departments/ted/instructio...

My son @ 4 yo old was an over-active, impulsive, immature boy. Constantly did attention-seeking behaviors. Drove us crazy! I was always hesitant when I picked him up from pre-school because the teacher always had an issue to relay to me on any given day. At one pt. a very well meaning teacher said he is certainly ADD/ADHD and gave us a list of 3 psychologists to call and set up an appt for testing. After calling them, and 2 others on my own, 4 out of the 5 said he is too young to test. One of the important criteria is how much control he has over his environment. At 4 he wouldn't/shouldn't necessarily have enough control that the testing would require. We decided to hold off and wait until public school. Upon entering kindergarten, he was never tested and I never indicated to any one that we had prior issues. I didn't want him labeled early on and waited to see what others thought.

Fast forward 6 yrs. - at age 10 & in 5 grade. Very focused & bright (straight A's every year and in Talented & Gifted program), in scouts, plays an instrument and very involved in sports. Has a wicked sense of humor and has 6-8 very close friendships with others his own age. Teachers love him! Very articulate and well behaved.

I know there are kids that are ADD/ADHD and without the diagnosis life would be unmanageable for them and their families. In our case we just had to be patient and wait for him to "grow up". Our terrible two's lasted about 3 1/2 yrs. I tell people I remember the exact 2 weeks before kindergarten when he just "got it" and he became more responsible and accountable. I remember those days when I'd put him to bed and couldn't remember if I said one positive thing to him the whole day - we use to call them the "No Days" - every time he did something I was saying "No". Hang in there. Try all sorts of different behavior techniques for discipline - there's tons of books out there (1-2-3 Magic was my favorite). Don't give up, what might work this week may not work next work. It will certainly keep you on your toes but in the end it's for your son's benefit. Good luck!

Sounds like it: I have a granddaughter who is 4 and she is the same way. Constantly, moving, talking, doing something. She will be watching t.v. or playing and she will come in the kitchen to say something or to just look around. I tell her to go back and watch t.v., she'll leave and in 30 seconds or less she will be back. She goes back and forth, doing something. She just can't sit still. Her mother was diagnoise with ADD too so I'm thinking the same with her. She's the type of child that you have to give her something structed to do. She likes coloring or drawing or just cutting paper and gluing. She gets bored in school. At daycare, she has been moved up a few months early in each class she has been in. Now she's really bored because during the summer the daycares do not do a lot of structured things so she gets in trouble and bored and don't want to go back. She is so ready for kindergarten (forget PreK). Her teachers said that she should go straight to kindergarten. Maybe once she's in school they can test her. Maybe the same for your son.

Please be careful if you seek a dr. They are quick to put kids on medicine and from what I've seen they seem to be saying all kids have ADD/ADHD. Some actually do have it and require the medicine and I have a friend who has 3 kids who told the dr her kids need the medicine for it and the dr finally gave in and said they were. She only wanted them on the medicine because it made them sleepy and they wouldn't be bothering her. I hope this doesn't sound negative. I just wanted to let you know some dr will say they are when they are just being typical 4 year olds. I hope this helps.

I have not read the responses so excuse me if I repeat what someone else has said. I think parents today are always looking for a "quick fix" for every thing from active children to a cold.
Video games have been proven to wreck a child's attention span so consider taking those away and see if that does not help.
Also, you may want to read John Rosemond articles. John is a firm believer that ADD is way overdiagnosed because parents don't want to be parents.
I am not saying this is you however, I would strongly suggest you read his stuff before you try to diagnose your child.

It looks like you have gotten lots of good advice! 4 is too young to be diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. Children (like adults) are just all different--and he may be one that has a LOT of energy. I have 2 boys--one has energy for days and the other one is very calm. My daughter has more energy than both! I'd say for your son try to give him a structured routine. My active son thrives on routine--just make sure there is lots of outside time--or other activities that use his energy!! And watch his sugar intake--sometimes that can make a world of difference! I hope you find some ways to help--I know it can be exhausting!! Enjoy your little boy!

Have him tested for food allergies thru blood work but take a look at his diet also. Also have his hearing tested thru a specialist.YOU will be surprised at what certain foods can do to kids.You mentioned he was loud, so the hearing specialist needs to be considered so u can rule these things out before he is tested for adhd or add

Hi, You can ask your pediatrition about this to get a clear picture of what is going on with your little guy. I have a friend who's son is ADHD who calm's him down when he is really wired by giving him a Mama bear hug. This gives him proprioceptive input and helps him to process outside stimulation to calm down. He also is able to concentrate on video games but bounces around a lot doing anything else. The hug lasts a few seconds and really seem to help him focus.
THanks Pam

Not being able to sit still, etc., is usually pretty normal for this age, BUT some parents can see that there is something different even at this age. I think some places don't like to diagnose until age 5 or 6, but different places vary.

We take our son to non-medicated therapy (currently he is doing neurofeedback therapy) in Duluth, GA. It's called Mind and Motion on the door...aka Psychological Sciences Institute. People come from all over to get tested, etc. They have every therapist you can think of that you can get hooked up with. If you don't live close by (I'm about 40 minutes away from this place.), you can still call them and ask about what age they do this diagnosis. http://www.psycscienceinst.com/

If you susspect it do some research on how diet and supplements can help. You could try a few things and self diagnose since I am sure you wouldn't want to medicate him especially at this age. It is amazing what can be accomplished this way. I have an article one how often it is a Candida infection that causes it. I can mail you a copy or try scanning it if you would like.

Sincerely,
K. B

www.shaklee.net/takecontrol

My little brother, now 21, was a VERY hyper little guy. There were 4 of us and he was the baby, so my mom knew that he was way more hyper than her other children. She saw several different doctors and they all wanted to medicate. My mom really didn't ant to go that route so she decided to change his diet. She did the normal stuff... less sugar and dyes. She did this for along time giving him snacks like popcorn thinking this would help and nothing was really working. She was still not convinced that he was ADD/ADHD. FINALLY drs. realized my little brother was allergic to corn (corn, corn syrup, etc.) Once his diet suited him he was a totally different kid.
Some signs that made my mom think that he was not ADD/ADHD were:
~There were times that he would be calm and then something would trigger him and he would be , literally, bouncing off of the walls. He seemed like he was miserable... like he was crawling out of his skin.
~This stuff sounds weird but signs of a food allergy... smelly feet (I mean REALLY smelly not just after running around for the day), red ears, and itching.
Good luck... I would try everything before you decide to medicate. Medication can definitley help if it is needed, but so many children are over medicated these days:(

Hi BD,

Most hyperactivity and volume, lol, is due to overstimulation... BUT, of course a 4 year old will be a four year old. That's not to say that you are doing any thing differently than anyone else, but overstimulation comes in many forms. My youngest was diagnosed with ADHD at a very young age but I determined that the sythetic chemicals I used in the house were the culprit. As soon as I detoxed my home, the symptoms went away and the doctor removed the diagnosis. This is VERY common these days because most everything in the stores is a synthetic chemical. I also started using non-toxic things on her as well. Even Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo is toxic to a child. It contains formaldehyde that causes hyperactivity as well as cancers...

Foods also contain synthetic chemicals in the forms of pesticides, preservatives, antibiotics, hormones, etc and even if they are considered safe by the FDA, when mixed together, they contraindicate just like a medication does. I guess I'm saying kids today get bombarded more with this stuff than we did.

Detoxing was very simple for me and I found it to be inexpensive as well. If you want more information I'll be glad to share. God bless and don't be to quick to let anyone lable your little one :)

M.
www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk

I don't have personal experience with this, but my friend's child was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 4 so it is possible. I would contact your pediatrician and try to schedule an assessment.