Hyperactivity

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Central nervous system

Overview

Treatment

Hyperactivity

Alternative Names:

Activity - increased; Hyperkinetic behavior

Home Care:

A child who is normally very active often responds well to specific directions and a program of regular physical activity. A child with a hyperactivity disorder, on the other hand, has a hard time following directions and controlling impulses.

Call your health care provider if:

Your child seems persistently hyperactive
Your child is very active, aggressive, impulsive, and has difficulty concentrating
Your child's activity level is causing social difficulties, or difficulty with schoolwork

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed. There may also be a review of the home and school environments.

Medical history questions documenting hyperactivity in detail may include:

Is this a new behavior for the child or has the child always been very active?
Is the behavior getting worse?
Exactly what behavior have you noticed?
Is the child physically active?
Is the child easily distracted?
Does the child have trouble following directions?
Have you noticed anything that makes the child more or less active?
Is the child more active at school than at home?
What other symptoms are present?

The provider may recommend a thorough psychological evaluation.

Review Date: 5/12/2006
Reviewed By: Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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