ADHD/ADD in toddlers
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Anonymous
| What does adhd look like in a 2 year old. What are the early signs? Parents whose child went on to get a diagnosis what was your child like at age 2? |
Anonymous
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OP,
No one gets a diagnosis at age 2. If you have concerns you should see a developmental pediatrician. |
Anonymous
It may not look like anything more than two year old behavior at that age. My DS was having meltdowns, easily upset, major difficulty transitioning away from actitivies that he was enjoying, impulsive (I had to keep my hands on him at all times in public or he would make a run for it). Just very difficult. |
Anonymous
| Mine was pretty normal, except she had more trouble sitting still than the average kid and was difficult to toilet train. That's not enough for a diagnosis, but it does make sense now. |
Anonymous
This is my child exactly. My husband and I were both diagnosed with ADD in elementary school. I was just curious of the early signs. My child is extremely difficult and isn't like any of the other children his age in regards to behavior as well as language development. Fine and gross motor are above average but language and behavior not so much. |
Anonymous
PP here-- ADD is hereditary and you will need to be watchful. However, my son has a friend who was seriously one of the worst behaved preschoolers I've ever seen (aggressive, emotional, impulsive, etc.) More difficult than my son (who was really a piece of work at that age). That kid grew out of it- my DS is the one with ADHD. ADHD can't be accurately diagnosed until later- I wouldn't rush or worry. Just keep in mind that your DS may not respond to traditional discipline- it's perfectly okay to be flexible and creative-- my biggest battles with DS happened when I kept trying to implement time outs and take toys away from him. I would give a lot to go back to that time and implement a positive parenting strategy. It would have been so much more effective and good both of us. ADHD is difficult to parent, but it's not the end of the world. My DS is really growing into a great person. I wouldn't change anything about him. |
Anonymous
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At 2, my son was noticeably more active than his peers, running and climbing at speeds his peers were not capable of or interested in. He was much more "confident" or "fearless" (whatever you want to call it) than the other kids, so add that with the hyperactivity, and let's say we're at the park. The other kids would take 30 seconds to slowly toddle away from their parents, they'd be looking back at their parents and the other kids to gauge the new situation, and then slowly, painfully get onto the jungle gym. My son just happily took off and never looked back.
His only "problem" at this age was total lack of body awareness and also the need for sensory inputs - which he got by hugging other kids too hard and totally out of the blue, or literally walking up to kids at the park and body checking them out of nowhere. It wasn't aggressive or angry behavior, but it was (and continues to be, in a different form) a very difficult problem. His interactions with peers were always a little weird, but it's never been clear to me if that's because of his hyperactivity/lack of fear, versus larger social issues. He also did not use language nearly as effectively as his peers, but that may have been related to ear fluid. My son has always been an exceptionally easy going and happy kid, and we have never had any tantrum issues like more often than not accompany adhd. However, punishments, discipline and frankly, most "parenting" have always had zero impact on our son. As parents, we've had to prioritize keeping us, him and other kids safe - which means intervening to prevent said body checks or whatever. But we've learned that disciplining to try and adjust his behavior or even to make him feel bad for his behavior has no impact on him. We will discipline out of principal, but are mostly greeted with blank stares from our son. |
Anonymous
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Similar to what others have noted, at that age my daughter was impulsive, flitted from thing to thing, never staying with something for more than 10-30 seconds - noticeably shorter attention span (or non-existent attention span) compared to peers. Lots of movement/movement seeking/sensory seeking, fearless, total lack of body awareness. Very bull in a china shop. Would get lost going from point A to B, so wasn't absorbing directions, even the one step direction she would absorb she'd get distracted (the "ooh shiny" phenomenon I called it) before completing. Always the last kid to...line up, sit down, get x, whatever it was that everyone else was capable of doing, she was oblivious to what was going on. Just well beyond the normal range for peers.
Can't say that these things aren't seen in some kid who doesn't end up with ADHD, but she was a kid formally diagnosed and medicated before 4 (to noticeable improvement) because of the safety/impulsivity issues that persisted. She did not, for the most part, have disciplinary issues or epic melt downs (though we had some waves of that later - only at home - after 3). Was not aggressive per say - but certainly lashed out due to poor language skills (which extended beyond ADHD related issues) if someone was too close or took something, and had a tendency to be overly physical. |
Anonymous
| At 2 my ADHD combined type boy was always on high speed. He never walked and ran everywhere. Often injury himself and was sensory avoiding (would jump back away from interesting/foreign materials). |
Anonymous
| Ran everywhere. Did not respond despite understanding. So, so difficult. Just like 20 kids. He dwarfed my other child with needs. |
Anonymous
| OP again. We are sort of banging our head against a wall with our son. He is so so challenging and from the moment he started walking at 9 months it has been constant movement. I often say he is like a boomerang. He really just does not stop. Thank god the weather has finally broken and we can just live outside on playgrounds and in parks. It is very challenging for us and the developmental pediatrician we are going to see asked me a ton of questions and was really hung up on me and my husband and our diagnosis's. I actually have my old files from the testing that was done in high school to bring in. Does it get easier and do they ever slow down? Of course at 2 I am not looking for a diagnosis but it was suggested we see a developmental pediatrician because of his language delays. |
Anonymous
What does his daily routine look like? |
Anonymous
| Wakes up at 7, breakfast at 7:30 and then we head to playgroup from 9-11. At playgroup he has snack st 10:30. We go for a walk after for about 30 minutes, once we get home he plays in his playroom with me and then lunch at 12. After lunch we play a little more I. The playroom and then nap from 1-3. Wakes up and has a snack and then we head outdoors to the park or playground until 5:30 and then home by 5:50 and dinner ready by 6. After dinner we play in the playroom and then bath at 7 and in bed by 7:30. He falls asleep at around 8. If we do not go to playgroup in the morning we go to the park or playground or for a bike ride together. I try to keep him outside and active as much as possible. |
Anonymous
Even if it's ADHD - it gets easier, but you'll need some support and suggestions because each age has its own set of challenges. IMO his schedule looks great. Keep him moving and tired at bedtime so you can get a break when he's napping or down for the night. |
Anonymous
| What are his language issues? |