Hyperactivity in children, teens, and young adults
“Hyperactive” has become a common way to describe kids who are full of energy and eager to expend it. True hyperactivity is more than that — usually combining a high level of physical activity, often with rapid speech, and a tendency to jump from topic to topic or to different physical activities. Hyperactive children seem to be in continuous motion, often gleeful, but with a lot of chaos in their wake. They may talk nonstop, fidget often, shun quiet activities, and be unable to sit still. In teens and young adults, hyperactivity may be less about physical activity and more about disorganization, impulsiveness, and restlessness.
Hyperactivity is often associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a diagnosable disorder that affects children and adults. In some cases, hyperactivity has other causes, like anxiety or mood disorders.
Learn more about hyperactivity at your child’s age
Hyperactivity in early childhood (0–5 years old)
Energy levels can differ greatly among children of the same age group. Some children are drawn to quiet, calm activities and environments. Others are naturally busy and restless, requiring a lot of physical activity to function well in daily life. Many move up and down that spectrum, depending on the day and its opportunities. In general, it’s normal for toddlers to:
- Be very active
- Have a short attention span
- Be easily distracted
- Move quickly from one activity to the next
What can I do?
To help manage hyperactivity in your preschooler:
- Provide structure to their day
- Make time for physical play
- Reduce unnecessary distractions
- Provide healthy meals and snacks
- Ensure they get enough rest and sleep
Toddlers should get 11–14 hours of sleep each day, and 3–5-year-olds should get 10–13 hours, including naps. Adequate sleep can greatly:
- Reduce hyperactivity
- Improve attention span
- Lower impulsive behavior
When should I be concerned?
Because toddlers are normally active and distractible, it’s not always easy to distinguish between typical high activity and behavior that might indicate ADHD or some other issue. What should you look for? Signs of ADHD include impulsive behavior or actions that demonstrate constant, boundary-pushing such as:
- Climbing on objects that pose danger
- Getting injuries from physical activity
- Being aggressive with classmates, causing removal from preschool
- Talking excessively, disrupting, and making more noise than other children in the same age group
- Fidgeting, tapping hands or feet, or squirming in seat
- Leaving seat when it is expected to remain seated
- Inability to play or take part in leisure activities quietly
- Trouble waiting their turn
- Avoiding activities that require paying attention for more than a few minutes
Where can I get help?
- Talk to your child’s pediatrician about your experience and for guidance
- Contact Ohana at (831) OHANA01
If you’re concerned about your child’s hyperactivity, talk to your pediatrician.
It's essential to diagnose and treat ADHD early because it can have a significant impact on a child's learning and academic development.
If an assessment is recommended, a clinician will collect a thorough medical and developmental history of your child. They may also gather information from your child’s preschool teacher and primary caregivers.
If your child's case is complicated or if the diagnosis isn't clear, some assessors will recommend a neuropsychological evaluation and a speech and language assessment. (Learning disabilities, particularly language-based learning disorders, often co-exist with ADHD.) These diagnostic steps can help distinguish learning disorders from ADHD, and other issues. If ADHD is diagnosed, treatment could include:
- Parent training to help you better manage and respond to your hyperactive child
- Prescribing stimulant medications; if those don’t work, nonstimulant medications may be tried
Some parents prefer to try training first, but research has shown that training alone doesn’t work well.
Ohana uses a range of treatments that are based on evidence and experience. We know that no two families are alike and choose the best options for you, after an assessment of your child and family. Learn more about our treatment approaches.
Hyperactivity in school-age children (6–11 years old)
With the toddler years behind them, school-age children develop a greater sense of self-control. Most can typically better understand and follow rules, pay attention to others, and engage in structured activities. Still, it’s normal for school-age children to run or climb excessively, talk a lot and interrupt others, and struggle with sitting still for long periods of time. High-energy kids may feel restless in school and always want to be moving.
What can I do?
To help your child manage hyperactivity:
- Provide structure to their day
- Get them involved in sports or other physical activities
- Reduce unnecessary distractions
- Provide healthy meals and snacks
- Ensure they get enough rest and sleep — 9–12 hours per day is recommended
When should I be concerned?
Distinguishing between high activity and ADHD can be challenging for parents. Typically, ADHD disrupts home or school and interferes with the child’s daily life, such as schoolwork or friendships, and has been present for an extended period. By the time children reach school age, those with ADHD show symptoms of all three of these components:
- Inattention: Short attention span, difficulty listening to others
- Hyperactivity: Squirming in their seat, being in constant motion
- Impulsivity: Interrupting others, engaging in risky behavior
Where can I get help?
- Talk to your child’s pediatrician about your experience and for guidance
- Check with your child’s school for resources they may have to support you and your child
- Contact Ohana at (831) OHANA01
Your child’s pediatrician may recommend an assessment to help determine if they have ADHD or if there is another cause of their extended hyperactive behavior.
An assessor will collect a thorough medical and developmental history. They may also give you assessment forms to be filled out by you and your child’s teacher and caregivers. Sometimes, the assessor will ask for old report cards to determine if teachers noted issues in a classroom setting.
If your child's case is complicated or if the diagnosis isn't clear, some assessors will recommend a neuropsychological evaluation and a speech and language assessment (learning disorders, particularly language-based learning disorders, often co-exist with ADHD). These extra diagnostic steps can help distinguish learning disorders from ADHD, and other issues.
Other potential causes of hyperactivity include:
- Sleep problems, including lack of sleep or sleep apnea
- Stressful events at school or home
- Vision or hearing issues
- Anxiety disorders, which can cause behavior (nervousness, fidgeting) that’s sometimes mistaken for hyperactivity
- Behavioral disorders, such as oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder
- Learning disorders
- Medication side effects
- Mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder
If ADHD is diagnosed, treatment could include:
- Parent training to help you better manage and respond to your hyperactive child
- Prescribing stimulant medications; if those don’t work, nonstimulant medications may be tried
Some parents prefer to try training first, but research has shown that training alone doesn’t work well.
Ohana uses a range of treatments that are based on evidence and experience. We know that no two families are alike and choose the best options for you, after an assessment of your child and family. Learn more about our treatment approaches.
Hyperactivity in teens (12–18 years old) and young adults (19–25 years old)
In adolescents and young adults with ADHD, physical hyperactivity is usually not as prominent. Instead, common symptoms are impulsiveness, restlessness, disorganization, and inattention. Once they enter high school, teens with ADHD may feel additional academic and social pressures, potentially leading to antisocial behavior and trouble with relationships.
While both teens and young adults may struggle with self-control, young adults typically have greater impulse control and may be better at assessing risks and rewards. This is partly a reflection of brain development. The prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for impulse control and decision-making, is still developing until about age 25.
What can I do?
During your child’s teenage and young adult years, they may have times of forgetfulness, distractibility, and restlessness. To support them:
- Help them create a routine they can follow every day
- Encourage them to get organized — put items in identified places, make lists, keep calendars
- Help them plan
- Manage distractions — limit noise and screen time
- Be clear and specific when giving instructions or information, breaking things down into steps
- Encourage physical activity that they enjoy
- Provide healthy foods
- Supporting adequate sleep — 8–10 hours per day for teens and 7 or more hours per day for young adults
When should I be concerned?
It’s important to seek professional help if your teen or young adult’s hyperactivity:
- Gets worse; hyperactivity symptoms usually appear before age 12
- Appears suddenly
- Interferes with their daily life, including school performance, social relationships and completing tasks
Hyperactivity in your teen or young adult could be ADHD or it could be caused by:
- Anxiety disorders, which can cause behavior (nervousness, fidgeting) that’s sometimes mistaken for hyperactivity
- Behavioral disorders, such as oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder
- Learning disorders
- Sleep problems, including lack of sleep or sleep apnea
- Stressful events at school or home
- Substance use issues
- Medication side effects
- Mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder
Where can I get help?
Avenues for seeking help, include:
- Your teen or young adult’s primary care doctor
- School mental health services
- University mental health services, if your young adult is in college
- An employee assistance program (EAP), if your young adult has access through an employer
- Contact Ohana at (831) OHANA01
A mental health professional can help determine the underlying cause of your teen or young adult’s hyperactivity. An assessor likely will collect a thorough medical and developmental history. They may also give you assessment forms to be filled out by you and their teachers. If your young adult is in a relationship, the assessor may want to talk to their partner or spouse.
Treatment depends on the diagnosis and may include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on changing unhelpful or negative thoughts and the behaviors that come with them
- Medication
- A sleep study
- Substance-use disorder counseling
Ohana uses a range of treatments that are based on evidence and experience. We know that no two families are alike and choose the best options for you, after an assessment of your child and family. Learn more about our treatment approaches.
