“My daughter still continues to be hyperactive. What should I do?”
My daughter is 14 years old but still continues to be hyperactive like a 2 year old. I find it extremely difficult to calm her down at times. Do you think she requires medical help?
16 Answers
Sounds like there may be something more than just hyperactive issues going on with her. Consider getting therapy appointment first.
Great questions,
First, look at a her diet and vitamin supplements. Make sure she is not taking or ingesting high amounts of fructose corn syrup or fructose sugar, commonly found in many household foods, which bypasses the body's key regulation symptoms for controlling the amount of energy. This can present symptoms like those of your daughter. Also, make sure she is not taking vitamin B at night. I had a recent patient who was getting vitamin B12 at night, which causes excessive energy. Another question to consider is whether your daughter has had her thyroid levels checked, as that, too, can cause such symptoms. So, overall, make sure a FULL medical evaluation is completed before jumping to medication to calm her down.
Dr. Sangra
First, look at a her diet and vitamin supplements. Make sure she is not taking or ingesting high amounts of fructose corn syrup or fructose sugar, commonly found in many household foods, which bypasses the body's key regulation symptoms for controlling the amount of energy. This can present symptoms like those of your daughter. Also, make sure she is not taking vitamin B at night. I had a recent patient who was getting vitamin B12 at night, which causes excessive energy. Another question to consider is whether your daughter has had her thyroid levels checked, as that, too, can cause such symptoms. So, overall, make sure a FULL medical evaluation is completed before jumping to medication to calm her down.
Dr. Sangra
I would seek an evaluation to look at all the potential causes of her hyperactivity. Hyperactivity can be related to anxiety, depression or avoid of tasks that are challenging. A comprehensive evaluation will begin to help you and your daughter.
Dear Parent,
She definitely should have a complete physical by her pediatrician to rule out any possible medical causes for her hyperactivity. Then she should be evaluated by a child or adolescent psychiatrist with experience treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
David H. Lifschutz, MD
She definitely should have a complete physical by her pediatrician to rule out any possible medical causes for her hyperactivity. Then she should be evaluated by a child or adolescent psychiatrist with experience treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
David H. Lifschutz, MD
Yes, it is worth having her evaluated by a professional to see if there is either a medical condition, depression, anxiety or something such as ADHD
She definitely might benefit from medical help if this is getting in the way of her optimal function. Good exercise routine, remove additives and hormone disruptors from her diet and environment. Consider removal of inflammatory foods from her diet (dairy, grains, sugar) or she might do better on the Feingold Diet - find it on the internet-removes salicylates. More details would be necessary before I would be prepared to make any further recommendations
What appears to be "hyperactive" can have associated symptoms caused by a variety of things (medical and/or emotional). Both of you would be best served to have her evaluated professionally to see what all might be contributing to her hyperactivity. Sometimes looking at the situation is like peeling through layers of an onion. After the outer layer is dealt with, another layer is revealed. Is she distracted by anxiety or depression or lack of sleep or obstructive sleep apnea or iron deficiency (not necessarily being anemic) or learning difficulties or social worries? What may appear to be ADHD may or may not be ADHD. Various problems can be driving the behavior, or the above problems may be "co-morbid" (in medical terms). That is, they may exist together.
Sincerely,
Susan Sparkman, M.D.
Sincerely,
Susan Sparkman, M.D.
She should be checked for it.
An evaluation would seem warranted if the hyperactivity is causing significant problems with functioning. Start with a child/adolescent psychiatrist (if already screened by a pediatrician).
Have her see a Board Certified Child Psychiatrist who can correctly diagnose and treat her. It is possible she is not on the right medication or dose. ADHD for many is a lifelong condition. Adequate and precise treatment is imperative and the physician best suited to do so is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.
Regards,
Ifeoma Arene, M.D.
Regards,
Ifeoma Arene, M.D.
If she's acting like a 2 year old in terms of hyperactivity, school must be aware and provided you with information. It's highly unlikely that a 14 year old very hyperactive kid who behaves like a 2 year old would not be assessed by this age. Common causes are ADHD, and learning disability, in addition to many others
I assume she has always been like this and hasn't developed the behavior recently. If that is the case, it could well be she has ADHD. There are other medical diseases, such as thyroid disease, that can mimic some symptoms, but statistically much less likely. Talk to your pediatrician about it. If it is significant, it will eventually lead to social problems as an adolescent, even if her school performance is fine.
Marat Nadirovich Shamsutdinov
Adolescent Psychiatrist
It is possible that people have hyperactivity symptoms for their entire life. Only about 50% of kids of a hyperactive/impulsive type will not have hyperactivity by adulthood. So, if she is struggling with her symptoms and it affects her study and daily life, then she should be evaluated for the cause of it, because hyperactivity can be not only due to ADHD.
Good luck, and I hope it helps.
Good luck, and I hope it helps.
Yes. "Hyperactivity" typically decreases with age. If it is still an issue at age 14, she should be evaluated by a child psychiatrist.
Yes. She needs to be seen by a professional ASAP.
Allison V. Downer, M.D.
Allison V. Downer, M.D.
It certainly would not be a bad idea to have her be evaluated if her hyperactivity is getting in the way of her reaching her potential in school and affecting her social life, as well as her home life. Your pediatrician should be able to start this process and if needed a consultation with a child and adolescent psychiatrist may be helpful.
K. Michael Saliba,MD
K. Michael Saliba,MD
