Hyperactivity

Alternative names:

activity - increased; hyperactive; hyperkinetic behavior

Home care:

A child who is normally very active often responds well to specific directions and a program of regular physical activity.

Call your health care provider if:

• your child seems persistently hyperactive.
• your child is very active, and is also aggressive and impulsive, and has difficulty concentrating, or has other symptoms.

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:

• time pattern
  • Is this a new behavior for the child or has the child always been very active?
  • Is the behavior getting worse?

• quality
  • What exactly have you noticed?
  • Is the child physically active?
  • Is the child easily distracted?
  • Does the child have trouble following directions?

• aggravating and relieving factors
  • Have you noticed anything that makes the child more or less active?
  • Is the child more active when at school than when at home?

• other
  • What other symptoms are present?

The physical examination may include a thorough psychological evaluation.

After seeing your health care provider:
If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider as the cause of the child's hyperactivity, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record.