The 3 differences between a nervous child and a hyperactive child

Many parents wonder if their son or daughter is hyperactive because they see that they do not sit still, do not pay attention and get angry easily. Myths about what ADHD is have proliferated in recent decades, causing it to go from underdiagnosis to overdiagnosis.

Are all nervous children hyperactive? In reality, ADHD involves much more than just being a nervous person. It is a disorder of neurological origin that manifests itself in the form of severe attention problems, sleep problems and school problems.

Next we will understand what are the main differences between a nervous child and a hyperactive child, also seeing some of the main characteristics of ADHD.

• Related article: "Child therapy: what is it and what are its benefits"

Distinguishing between a nervous child and a hyperactive child

In recent years, many parents have begun to see child psychologists concerned about the possibility that your child could suffer from ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder with hyperactivity). Many of these visits are motivated by the myths that continue to circulate about what ADHD is, added to the fact that many teachers, when they see that one of her students seems to be too active and has trouble concentrating, they consider the possibility that she has this disorder and notify their fathers.

The number of children diagnosed with hyperactivity has increased in recent years. The reason for this is that there is now a greater sensitivity about ADHD, the importance of a diagnosis early because, if it is too late or not received, it can imply serious difficulties in the life of the affected. Children with ADHD benefit from the diagnosis because it is followed by the treatment with which they will be provided with the appropriate tools to deal with their disorder and improve their lives in the educational, social and personal.

However, this increased awareness has also had a negative consequence. In the last 25 years, underdiagnosis has gone to overdiagnosis, causing many children to be classified in a category that does not correspond to them. In these cases, they are not children with a neurobiological problem, but most likely they are just very nervous little ones, something that is part of their personality and that ADHD medication is not going to "sort out".

children are restless

Every father and mother should know that children, by nature, are restless, little people full of energy who do not stop still. It is their need, so in principle we should not worry that our son or daughter does not stop still. In fact, it is something to be expected depending on what age. For example, if it is a 2-year-old who does not stop talking, that is totally normal because he has just acquired that skill and is putting it into practice, surprised by his new capacity.

If he is between 4 or 5 years old and does not stop running and jumping, it is also normal. Again, the reason he is behaving this way is that he is acquiring a new skill, in this case greater motor control. When learning to walk and achieve motor independence, children know how to get a lot out of it by grabbing everything, running, jumping, investigating their environment, discovering their world. It is for all this that it is essential to teach them where they can and cannot release their energies, teaching them when their behavior is appropriate and setting rules and limits to encourage their self-control.

Some adults expect too much from children, which is why they can confuse the characteristic energy and activity level of childhood with ADHD. It is normal for little ones to be so restless, and there is a neurobiological explanation for this: the prefrontal cortex.

Concentration, attention and the ability to regulate behavior are functions that depend heavily on this area, which does not fully mature until around 25 years of age. At 5 years old she is mature enough to inhibit the behavior, and at 7 she is mature enough to be able to sustain attention for long periods of time.

• You may be interested: "The 6 stages of childhood (physical and mental development)"

What is hyperactivity in children?

In a very brief way, we are going to explain what ADHD is. It is the most common neurobiological disorder in childhood, presenting it in about 5% of the child population. Is about a psychiatric condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, although they do not have to occur together since there are different subtypes of ADHD.

ADHD is usually diagnosed during the early years of elementary school. The professionals in charge of the diagnosis are pediatric neurologists, psychologists and child psychiatrists. During the diagnosis, interviews with the parents and with the infant, testimonies of the teachers will be necessary. of the child as well as physical examinations and complementary tests to rule out any other problematic.

Between diagnostic criteria There are some behaviors directly related to attention problems:

• Lack of sufficient attention to detail.
• Difficulty sustaining attention on tasks or recreational activities.
• Lack of concentration on schoolwork (often left unfinished).
• Rejection of tasks that require cognitive effort.
• Frequent loss of objects.

Treatment for ADHD must be approached in a coordinated manner, from different therapeutic disciplines. Drugs are necessary, prescribed by a psychiatrist or neurologist, in addition to psychological and psychopedagogical treatment. In the specific case of ADHD, none of these treatments is unique or can replace the others.

• Related article: "Types of ADHD (characteristics, causes and symptoms)"

The 3 differences between a nervous child and a hyperactive one

The differences between a nervous child and a hyperactive child are mainly three. It is worth mentioning that it is not always easy to distinguish between these children, since both one without ADHD and one with can manifest symptoms such as inattention, irritability, sleep problems and frequent crying. In addition, and as we have mentioned before, all children are restless to a greater or lesser extent, so it is common for them to move excessively and act without thinking.

However, observation is key to deducing whether a child is simply nervous or, on the contrary, hyperactive. The following must be taken into account.

1. Root cause of problematic behaviors

The root cause of problem behaviors is different between a nervous child and a hyperactive child.

In the nervous it is almost always possible to find a cause for his restlessness., such as problems with classmates at school, the death of a loved one, a change in their environment, the arrival of a new sibling or tiredness due to sleep problems, among others. In these cases, when the situation normalizes or the cause disappears, the child usually calms down.

However, In the case of hyperactive children, it happens that the origin of their behaviors is not apparent.and. It is true that there could be a situation that causes nervousness but, when this is resolved, the child remains hyperactive.

• You may be interested: "How to set limits on children: 10 tips to educate them"

2. Areas of expression of the problem

Nervous children are able to concentrate for long periods of time when they really like the activity.. In fact, their concern usually only manifests itself in certain contexts, such as during a subject at school that they do not like or at home having to do a task that they do not like have fun

However, children with ADHD show their symptoms in different contexts, presenting a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity that interferes absolutely in all areas. His attention and concentration problems show up both at school and at home.

Very restless children often improve when clear guidelines for behavior are set. If the child in a public place does not stop running and jumping without us saying anything, it is not that the child is hyperactive, it is that she has not been taught to behave. On the other hand, in cases where you do have this problem, behavioral guidelines are of little use without the appropriate professional help.

• Related article: "What is psychotherapy for disobedient adolescents like?"

3. Time of onset of symptoms

The time of onset of symptoms is also an important difference that allows us to find out if a child is hyperactive or just nervous. Hyperactive children often present symptoms as early as infancy.. In fact, many fathers and mothers often say that their children were already very restless babies, with sleep problems and that they have always been very irritable. There are even testimonies of mothers who affirm that their son was already "moved" in the womb.

In nervous children, on the other hand, their restlessness usually appears after a triggering event, either gradually or suddenly. When nervousness is a characteristic of their personality, it diminishes as the boy or girl matures, acquiring greater control of their behavior. In the case of ADHD, what the passage of time achieves is only to exacerbate the symptoms, while the problems of concentration and attention are still present.