ADHD in 3 year olds

[LovemyKids86]

Ok,so I know most kids are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD when they go to school. My child is 3 years old and is always "on the move"…she can't calm down or relax during the day and is constantly getting into trouble for things she knows she isn't supposed to get into or doesn't listen to instruction.
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At night she is still energetic and could stay up till 3 a.m. if I let her. I don't know if the doctor will diagnose her or give her something to help her calm down and relax .

I need to know what others think according to the few details I have written…HELP!!!

[allmymarbles]

No one was criticizing you. You are a stranger to us and we were suggesting possibilities.

[LovemyKids86]

ok In response. Giving my child something to calm her down doesnt have to result in drugs. I have been able to give her Melatonin which is a natural hormone in the brain to help her from staying awake in the AM as late as 3 a.m…..I DO NOT give my child sugar in this house, because I dont eat sugar. I am pretty strict on the amount she is given so I highly doubt that that is a factor in it either. No she does NOT have sleep apnea and I would know this because she did sleep in my bed for awhile and has been broken of that for about a year now. And my doctor that I have is a very good doctor, me and him have already talked about her overactive behaviour when she turn 3 back in May but it has gotten a bit excessive.

@Sandman2--NO my daughter does not take naps, she can be up as early as 9 a.m. and still have the energy at 3 a.m. I can never get her to stay still during the day for a good nap. She is an only child at the moment and has her own room. And thank you for the website I will check it out :)

Allmymarbles--Whatever statements I may put out there I am not a parent to "accept" anything without "validating" the schools alone CANNOT diagnose her they can only Refer her to such people that can diagnose her. I"m pretty sure I wasnt stating that I would accept whatever, I was stating that most diagnosed kids with add/adhd are awaiting diagnosis when they reach school years.

[Sandman2]

     definitely agree with that!

[allmymarbles]

I wasn't clear. What I meant was that  common sense was an independent attribute, and not  related to education.

[Sandman2]

      Ya, thats pretty much what I tried to say in my last sentence.  So I do agree with you  - except for when you said,  "common sense is distributed with an even hand."  If that's true. somebody was only using one hand.

[allmymarbles]

Sorry. I see some of my English is a little garbled. That's what happens when you don't edit yourself. Still, I hope I got my thoughts across.

[allmymarbles]

Because of the increasing level if education in this country, the acceptance of a dictum by a professional is no longer accepted as gospel. We are educated enough to know that there are good doctors and bad doctors, good psychologists and bad ones. We have sources, academic and often social, to gather the information to make responsible decisions. Because when you come right down to it, the patient is responsible for his own well-being, which is why we choose our own doctors, sign wavers for surgery, etc.

Each person has his own predilections and biases, professionals not excepted. And common sense is distributed with an even hand.

[Sandman2]

        I'm not sure exactly what she meant.  But it is a fact of the profession that a doctor will not diagnosis based on just what the parent says is happening at home.  Thus the doctor will wait until he can get some added input from an outside area - typically, the school.
       And, I am not real sure how a nonprofessional would go about questioning the validity of a doctors diagnosis.  But I agree that such things as the experience of the doctor, the type of doctor, what other things are tried at home (as you mentioned) should all be factored into any decisions.

[allmymarbles]

A small note on your comment that "...I know most kids are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD when they go to school." It strikes a warning note that you accept this as the norm. Does that mean that you would blindly accept such a diagnosis for your child without investigating its validity?

[Sandman2]

     Allmymarbles has a good point.  At 3 years old, there are many things that look like ADHD.  Heck just look over on the child behavior forum for the posts labeled "my out of control 3 year old."   So it is definitely worth taking the time to eliminate some of the factors she suggests.
     And yes, typically, doctors won't prescribe meds for a 3 year old - but there are exceptions. To be diagnosed with ADHD you must have the symptoms in two different places, so most doctors wait until the child is in school to make an official diagnosis.
    It is amazing that she is still going at 3am.  Does she still nap?  Have her own quiet room?  Older siblings that keep her going?
     And, of course, she may have ADHD.  So far, one of the best sites I have found for helping parents with children with ADHD is this site.  
           http://helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_signs_symptoms.htm
   I think you will find it quite helpful.   Best wishes!!

[allmymarbles]

Thinking of giving a three-year-old "something to help her calm down" is not a benign treatment. You are talking drugs. Why not look for the cause of her hyperactivity. A high sugar diet can produce it and recent studies indicate that aspartame (the sugar junk substitute found in diet sodas) can create symptoms that mimic ADHD. If she is missing sleep that can account for her being  hyper. Does she have sleep apnea? You would be surprised how many tots have it.

So If you go to a doctor and he recommends a quick fix, I would find another doctor, one who is interested in finding the physical cause for her behavior. And don't forget, she may just be a superactive child with no ailments whatsoever.