My 6-year-old is showing signs of ADHD — what should I do?

The bravest thing a parent can do is notice early and ask — and you've already started.

In short

At 6, a child showing high activity, distractibility, fidgetiness or trouble waiting may simply be a busy young child — or these may be early signs worth a proper look. ADHD is best understood by gathering what teachers and you both observe across home and school, then having a qualified clinician assess it; it is never diagnosed from a single setting or a checklist. Your next step is a structured developmental check, not worry — and support can begin straight away whatever the outcome.

What to look for at 6

Many 6-year-olds are naturally energetic, so the question is whether the difficulties are frequent, across settings, and getting in the way of learning, friendships or daily routines. Patterns parents often notice:

• Inattention — hard to finish tasks, loses things, seems not to listen, easily sidetracked, careless slips.
• Hyperactivity — always on the go, fidgets, leaves the seat, struggles with quiet play.
• Impulsivity — blurts answers, can't wait turns, interrupts, acts before thinking.

Key point: ADHD signs should show up in more than one place — home and school — and should be more than what's typical for that age. A teacher's observations are gold here. Also worth ruling out are sleep problems, hearing or vision issues, anxiety, or simply a classroom that doesn't suit a lively learner — all can mimic ADHD.

What you can do now

1. Keep a simple diary — note when difficulties happen, how often, and where. Concrete examples help the clinician. 2. Ask the school — request the class teacher's written observations. 3. Check the basics — sleep, screen time, routine, and a hearing/vision review. 4. Book a developmental check — a clinician gathers information from both home and school before forming any view. Support strategies (clear routines, short instructions, movement breaks, praise for effort) can help every child and can start today.

The Pinnacle way

A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from a web page or a checklist. Our clinicians use a structured, clinician-administered assessment that draws on both home and school observations to understand your child's whole profile.

• Understand our structured assessment: AbilityScore®
• Build focus, routines and daily skills: occupational therapy
• Start here: [Pinnacle Blooms Network](/)

Trusted sources

Framed in line with WHO ICD-11, the American Academy of Pediatrics and HealthyChildren.org guidance on ADHD in school-age children, and NICE recommendations — all of which stress gathering evidence from multiple settings and a qualified clinical assessment before any diagnosis.

Next step — book a developmental check to understand what's really going on, with no labels and no pressure. Reach the Pinnacle team on WhatsApp: +91 91001 81181.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care.