| Signs of ADHD in toddlers can be worrisome to | | | | consideration the speed that a person typically speaks, |
| parents, but it's important to know there are other | | | | you would have to hear the word being said, translate |
| factors that may be causing these symptoms. The | | | | its meaning in your head, and then understand the |
| first thing to remember with toddlers is that they are | | | | concept of the sentence. By this time the person is |
| constantly learning new things about the world and | | | | already talking about something else and you are still |
| their environment. | | | | trying to understand what they were originally saying |
| Especially for children that are curious and exploring on | | | | to you. As a result, you might just choose not to pay |
| a regular basis, things in the environment can be very | | | | attention because it's too much work. |
| distracting. Diagnosing ADHD in toddlers is not usually | | | | Here are some tips to remember to help with a |
| common because developmentally, toddlers are in a | | | | toddler's attention span: |
| stage that requires exploration and excitement in the | | | | Simple short sentences work best with toddlers. |
| world around them. As a result they may appear | | | | Make sure a toddler follows a nutritious and |
| hyperactive and have difficulties paying attention | | | | healthy diet to limit signs of ADHD |
| because of the overload in sensory stimulation. Some | | | | Follow a routine schedule so he/she knows what |
| children may also have an underlying sensory | | | | to expect. |
| processing disorder or sensitivity to sensory stimulation | | | | Temper tantrums are normal during the toddler |
| that causes distractions. | | | | years and do not indicate a sign of ADHD. However, it |
| Another difficulty for young children is that they tend to | | | | is important to properly respond to tantrums to avoid |
| have more limited understanding of language that can | | | | their continuance as your child gets older. |
| lead to difficulty paying attention when a person is | | | | Another consideration that seems to cause signs of |
| talking. The number of words a child learns and | | | | ADHD in toddlers may actually be that a child has |
| understands will vary between children, but boys tend | | | | sleeping difficulties or simply doesn't get the |
| to acquire language later than girls and are often very | | | | recommended amount of sleep based on age. Lack |
| busy doing more physical activities than stopping to | | | | of sleep limits attention and memory capabilities and |
| learn language concepts. | | | | also causes hyperactivity. A child that is overtired will |
| Therefore, while it may appear the there are | | | | get a second wind from the body's release of cortisol |
| symptoms of ADHD in toddlers, one possibility is that it | | | | and then display "wired," hyperactive behavior as a |
| may actually be more related to a delay in | | | | result. Sleep is very important especially at this young |
| understanding speech. If a child doesn't fully understand | | | | age. |
| what is being said, then his/her listening skills will not be | | | | Once a child is approximately 4 or 5 years old it is |
| as good as an older child's would. | | | | much easier to determine whether there are more |
| Compare the situation to going to a foreign country | | | | valid attention and hyperactive symptoms. Although it's |
| after only spending a short period of time studying the | | | | possible that a child may have shown signs of ADHD |
| language. Many would probably only understand a | | | | in toddler years, it is better to wait until children are |
| couple words per sentence. Then taking into | | | | older before assuming the need for further evaluation. |