Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a difference in how the brain develops that affects attention, activity levels and impulse control. It isn’t caused by bad parenting, and it isn’t simply naughtiness. With understanding and the right support at home and at school, children with ADHD can learn, make friends and do well.
Signs of ADHD in children
All children are sometimes distracted, restless or impulsive. With ADHD, these patterns are stronger than for other children of the same age, start early in childhood, last for months, and show up in more than one place, such as at home and at school. Signs include:
- losing focus quickly, missing details, and not seeming to listen;
- losing things, forgetting instructions, and leaving tasks half done;
- fidgeting, running or climbing when it isn’t appropriate, and talking a lot;
- blurting out answers, interrupting, and finding it hard to wait their turn;
- big emotional reactions and quick frustration.
Some children have mainly the inattentive kind of ADHD. They may seem dreamy or quiet rather than disruptive, so their difficulties are easily missed.
How ADHD is diagnosed
No blood test or online quiz can diagnose ADHD. A diagnosis is made by a child and adolescent psychiatrist, a developmental paediatrician or a clinical psychologist, usually through:
- a detailed history from parents, including early development and behaviour over time;
- reports or rating scales from teachers, because ADHD has to show up in more than one setting;
- observing and talking with your child;
- checking for other things that can look like ADHD or come with it, such as hearing or vision problems, poor sleep, anxiety, learning difficulties or autism.
Parts of this, such as the parent interview and teacher questionnaires, can happen online. Observation and some tests often need an in-person visit. Bring school reports and notes from teachers to the first appointment.
Treatment: what helps
Parent training
Parent training teaches practical ways to support your child: clear, short instructions; routines and visual timetables; noticing and praising what goes well; and calm, consistent consequences. For children under five, NICE (the UK’s health guidance body) recommends an ADHD-focused parent-training programme as the first treatment. For older children, support for parents is usually part of the plan alongside other help.
Help at school
Talk to the class teacher and the school counsellor. Simple changes can make a real difference: sitting near the teacher and away from distractions, instructions written down as well as spoken, tasks broken into small parts, movement breaks, and a quiet way to signal for help. Ask the school what support it can offer, and share what works at home.
Therapy for your child
Older children and teenagers can learn skills for planning, organisation and handling frustration. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help with the worry, low self-esteem or anger that often build up after years of being told off.
Medicine
For some children, a psychiatrist or paediatrician may suggest medicine alongside other support. This is a decision you make together with the doctor, after a proper assessment, weighing the possible benefits and side effects. Some ADHD medicines can’t be prescribed in an online-only consultation; your psychiatrist will explain what’s possible. Never stop or change your child’s medicine without your doctor.
Everyday strategies at home
- One instruction at a time. Get your child’s attention first, keep it short, and ask them to repeat it back.
- Make routines visible. A picture chart for mornings and bedtime reduces nagging for everyone.
- Break homework into chunks. Short bursts of work with movement breaks in between usually go better than one long sitting.
- Praise straight away. Notice and name what went well as soon as it happens.
- Protect sleep and activity. A regular bedtime and plenty of physical play help attention and mood.
- Stay calm with consequences. Keep them small, fair and immediate, and start fresh afterwards.
How long does support take?
ADHD is long term, so support changes as your child grows rather than ending after a set number of sessions. Parent guidance often runs over a few months at first, with check-ins later, for example when your child changes school or enters the teenage years.
Looking after yourself
Parenting a child with ADHD can be exhausting, and parents often face blame from relatives, schools and strangers. ADHD often runs in families, so you may also notice ADHD traits in yourself or your partner. Counselling for you, as a parent, can help with stress, guilt and strain between you and your partner. See parenting counselling, and if you recognise yourself, ADHD in adults.
Free and low-cost options
ADHD is one of the conditions covered by the government’s Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK). District Early Intervention Centres at district hospitals screen and support children with developmental concerns free of cost, and government medical colleges have child psychiatry or paediatric services. Fees for Mindara providers are shown on each card; see also what therapy costs in India.
Getting started on Mindara
Start with a session for yourself with a child psychologist or psychiatrist to talk through your concerns. To book for your child, add them under “Family members you manage” and confirm that you are their parent or guardian. Read how it works on our child psychologist page. If reading or writing is also a struggle, see our guide to learning disability assessment.
When to get urgent help
If your child talks about wanting to die, harms themselves, or is in danger, call 112 or the Child Helpline 1098, free and open 24 hours. For mental health support at any time, call Tele-MANAS on 14416.
