Assessments for Children

Anxiety and ADHD are two different mental health conditions, but they can sometimes look similar in children. This can make it difficult to tell which condition a child has, or if they have both.

Here are some ways that anxiety can manifest as ADHD in children:

• Restlessness: Anxiety can cause children to feel restless and fidgety. This can look like ADHD symptoms such as hyperactivity and difficulty sitting still.
• Poor focus: Anxiety can make it difficult for children to focus on tasks. This can look like ADHD symptoms such as distractibility and difficulty paying attention.
• Avoidance: Children with anxiety may avoid certain situations or activities because they are afraid of them. This can look like ADHD symptoms such as social withdrawal and difficulty participating in school or extracurricular activities.
• Irritability: Anxiety can make children irritable and easily frustrated. This can look like ADHD symptoms such as argumentativeness and defiant behavior.

If you are concerned that your child may have anxiety, it is important they be assessed to determine if they have anxiety or ADHD, or both.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind:

• The symptoms of anxiety and ADHD can overlap. This means that it can be difficult to tell which condition a child has, or if they have both.
• Anxiety can make it hard to identify that you also have ADHD since the symptoms may overlap. ADHD can also mask the symptoms of anxiety. It’s important to identify both conditions to get the best treatment.
• It is important to get an accurate diagnosis. This will help you get the right treatment for your child.
• There are effective treatments for both anxiety and ADHD. With treatment, your child can learn to manage their symptoms and live a happy and fulfilling life.