10 Conditions You Might Mistake for ADHD
Kids who have a hard time concentrating or learning might be suffering from one of these conditions.
Like kids with ADHD, children with autism might not adjust to change very well, and high-stimulus environments might cause them to get overly excited, which can seem like the hyperactivity associated with ADHD. Both kids with autism and those with ADHD can have a hard time bonding emotionally and understanding social rules, making it tough for them to fit in and make friends. But kids with autism will have more difficulties communicating than a child with ADHD would because they find it hard to decipher nonverbal language like tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language. Read more about the differences between ADHD and autism here.
Bipolar mood disorder
Some experts estimate up to 85 percent of kids with bipolar mood disorder are also diagnosed with ADHD. During their “manic” phases, bipolar children could show symptoms like hyperactivity and sleeplessness, while their “depressed” phases could show symptoms like inattention and lack of focus—all of which are symptoms similar to ADHD. But ADHD is an ongoing condition that usually starts around age 7, while bipolar disorder is episodic. Misbehavior from kids with ADHD is usually an accident resulting from inattentiveness, while bipolar children might seek conflict on purpose.
Low blood sugar
When children are low in blood sugar, they might have a hard time sitting still or concentrating, or become aggressive and hyperactive. Common thinking is that sugar can cause ADHD, but more studies have found evidence against that theory than before it. Here’s more about the link between sugar and ADHD.
Before kids are old enough to fully express themselves, it’s hard to recognize if they have a hearing problem. If they can’t hear well, they’ll have a hard time communicating, which makes social situations difficult. They might miss parts of a conversation not because they’re not focused, but because they can’t hear what’s going on or give up on trying to follow along.
Kids with ADHD can have a hard time falling asleep, but on the flip side, children who have a hard time falling asleep could also happen to show symptoms similar to ADHD. A lack of sleep can make it hard to concentrate, communicate, or create short-term memories, which could be mistaken for ADHD.
When kids are in learning environments that are too hard for them, they might start showing signs of ADHD, particularly inattentiveness. If a child seems to forget often, show lack of emotional maturity, require extra time to learn, or have a hard time in social settings, he or she might have a learning disability.
Sensory processing disorders
Sensory processing disorder occurs when the brain has trouble processing information from one or more senses, making the child under- or over-sensitive to sensory stimulation. Kids with SPD might jump from activity to activity quickly, have a hard time keeping focused, or cause accidents because they don’t understand the risks of their actions.
An underactive thyroid could cause difficulty concentrating and problems with memory, which could be confused with the forgetfulness associated with ADHD. Here are the silent signs of a thyroid problem.
Children who experience absence seizures might stare blankly, jerk or blink, or drop objects randomly throughout the day. The seizures typically only last 10 to 30 seconds and aren’t followed by disorientation, so they might be mistaken as inattention or daydreaming by parents and teachers.