ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting attention, activity levels and impulse control. It shows up differently in different children, and it’s often mistaken for behaviour a child could simply choose to change.
What it can look like
Inattention
Difficulty holding attention, losing track of tasks, disorganization, giving up on things that take sustained effort. This is frequently read as not trying — for a child with ADHD, it isn’t a choice they’re making.
Hyperactivity
A need to move: fidgeting, tapping, jiggling legs, getting up when expected to stay seated, talking a great deal. It tends to be most obvious in situations that demand stillness.
Impulsivity
Acting before thinking, interrupting, difficulty waiting a turn. Every child learns impulse control gradually — the question is whether your child is tracking well behind their peers rather than simply being young.
Getting an evaluation
Assessment draws on more than one setting, because attention looks different at home and at school. It usually involves a detailed history, standardised questionnaires completed by both parents and teachers, and ruling out other things that affect concentration — sleep problems, anxiety, low mood, or hearing and vision difficulties.
Start with your child’s primary care provider.
What helps
- Support at school — accommodations through a 504 plan or IEP, and teachers who know what’s going on
- Parent training — practical strategies that make home routines work rather than becoming daily battles
- Therapy — helping your child understand and manage their own patterns
- Medication — effective for many children, and reviewed regularly rather than set and forgotten
Most children do best with a combination, and what works changes as they grow.