Psychiatrist Shares The Physical Signs That Commonly Show Up In Kids With ADHD

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/difference-between-neurodiversity-neurodivergent-neurotypical_uk_69a829c7e4b0b7f2ce602310?origin=life-featured">a form of neurodivergence that’s thought to impact around https://adhduk.co.uk/about-adhd/#:~:text=Summary:%20We%20believe%20the%20best,European%20Child%20&%20Adolescent%20Psychiatry%5D." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">700,000 children in the UK.

There’s been a https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2023/jul/significant-rise-adhd-diagnoses-uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“significant rise” in ADHD diagnoses over the past two decades, which experts believe is largely down to greater awareness of the condition.

Yet https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/why-girls-adhd-under-diagnosed_uk_6981e013e4b0feb4ec4e4c70">girls in particular are more likely to remain undiagnosed. So too are children who are https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/who-are-the-youth-with-undiagnosed-adhd-symptoms" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“not particularly disruptive, are more cognitively able, and have better prosocial skills”, according to Isabella Barclay, of the Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics at Cardiff University.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10498662/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Undiagnosed ADHD has been linked to risks such as academic underachievement, educational problems, increased prevalence of depression and anxiety, and higher rates of offending behaviour. 

Diagnosis is important then in helping children, and their parents, learn to manage it – and, if necessary, to treat it (some people may https://www.psych.ox.ac.uk/news/oxford-study-identifies-the-most-effective-treatments-for-adhd-in-adults" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">benefit from taking medication).

If you’re wondering whether your own child might be displaying symptoms of ADHD, we spoke to Dr Mukesh Kripalani, lead psychiatrist at https://www.adhdcentre.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The ADHD Centre, about the common physical symptoms that can show up in kids. 

4 common physical signs of ADHD in children

1.

A ‘motor that won’t quit’ 

“In practice, the most glaring physical sign of ADHD I tend to see isn’t just a child who is energetic – it’s a child who seems physically driven by an internal motor.

They are in constant motion,” said Dr Kripalani.

“They squirm in their seats, tap their feet constantly, and often look like they find it physically uncomfortable to remain still for even a few minutes.”

2.

Subtle ‘fidgets’

People often expect ADHD to look like a child bouncing off the walls, said the expert, “but frequently, the physical signs are much more contained”.

He notes some common yet subtle signs include constantly twirling hair, picking at clothes, biting nails or “engaging in small, repetitive physical movements just to help their brains self-regulate”. 

3.

Lack of physical boundaries

The ADHD expert notes one of the key characterisations of ADHD, impulsivity, doesn’t just show up in what a child says – it shows up in their physical presence, too.

“Kids with ADHD often struggle with physical boundaries,” he said. “You’ll see them impulsively intruding on personal space, grabbing things from others without asking, or suddenly darting across a room or street without checking if it’s safe.”

4.

The physical toll of mental exhaustion

“Parents report that their child is suffering from frequent stomach-aches, tension headaches, or sleep disturbances,” added Dr Kripalani.

“While not direct diagnostic symptoms of ADHD, the sheer mental exhaustion and anxiety of trying to hold it together, focus, and sit still in a classroom all day often manifests as real physical distress.

“This is often the source of https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/child-rejection-sensitivity-dysphoria-parenting-advice_uk_69ba7299e4b08059575e3e34">rejection sensitivity and emotional fluctuations.”  

What parents need to know 

If you’ve noticed some of these symptoms in your child, Dr Kripalani advises keeping an eye out to see if it happens across environments – whether that’s home, school, childcare, or when they’re playing at friends’ homes. 

“If you’re noticing these physical signs, the first thing I ask parents to consider is the context.

Is your child only restless during math class, or are they also unable to sit through dinner or a movie at home?” said the expert.

“True ADHD doesn’t turn off when the school bell rings; we look for these physical behaviors showing up repeatedly across multiple environments.

The restlessness can be controlled for brief periods but it comes at a cost.”

It’s also crucial to determine how these symptoms might be impacting a child’s life.

“The question you need to ask as a parent is: is this physical restlessness interfering with their daily life?

If their inability to sit still or control their impulses is actively disrupting their learning, preventing them from making friends, or hurting their self-esteem, that’s when it’s time to pay closer attention,” he said.

And if these physical signs are showing up in your child’s life, he warns against waiting for them to just “grow out of it”.

“Consider reaching out to your paediatrician.

Our job isn’t just to label behaviour; it’s to help you untangle whether you are looking at standard childhood energy, anxiety, or ADHD, and then put a practical support system in place,” he ended.