• Home
  • About
  • Thyroid Kids Zone
  • Links
  • Contact
  • Blog
    • February 2016
      • Congenital Hypothyroidism…You Know…
    • January 2016
      • To my littlest love, who also happens to have Congenital Hypothyroidism
      • A Letter to My Son on his 10th Birthday – Congential Hypothyroidism
    • November 2015
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-11.18.15
      • Thyroid Mom receives Liebster Award
      • Motivation Monday & Your Thyroid Disorder
    • October 2015
      • Thyroid Disorders and Your Skin
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-10.28.15
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-10.14.15
      • ADHD and Thyroid Disorders
    • September 2015
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-9.30.15
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-9.23.15
      • Thyroid Mom Birthday Giveaway
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-9.16.15
      • Growth Awareness Week: September 2015
      • Are You An Empath & What Impact Does It Have On Your Health?
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-9.2.15
    • July 2015
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-7.15.15
    • June 2015
      • Giving Infants Medication
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-6.18.15
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-6.3.15
    • May 2015
      • Congenital Hypothyroidism and Blood Draws and Courage
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-5.20.15
      • Congenital Hypothyroidism: The First Year
      • Thyroid and Mental Health
    • April 2015
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-4.22.15
      • Too Young To Be So Sick: A Young Woman’s Battle With Graves’ Disease
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-4.15.15
    • March 2015
      • Trust Your Gut: Raising Children With Thyroid Disorders
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-3.11.15
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-3.4.15
      • Vitamin D and Your Thyroid
    • February 2015
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-2.11.15
      • How Do You Stay Hydrated in the Winter?
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-2.4.15
    • January 2015
      • 7 Lessons Chronic Illness Has Taught Me: A Retrospective Look at Hypothyroidism
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-1.14.15
      • Hypothyroidism in Children: Not So Rare After All!
      • Rise and Thrive!
    • December 2014
      • ThyroidChange: What It Means To Me by Thyroid Mom
    • November 2014
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-11.5.14
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-11.12.14
      • Vitamin B2 and Thyroid Function
    • October 2014
      • Thyroid Disorders Don’t Have to be Scary!
      • Fill ‘er up! Fellow Thyroid Warrior, Is Your Tank Empty?
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-10.22.14
      • Your Journey with Thyroid Disease
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-10.15.14
      • Autism and Congenital Hypothyroidism: Why Newborn Screening Matters
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-10.1.14
    • September 2014
      • Scrub Phobia: Battling Your Child’s Fear of Doctors
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-9.17.14
      • Growth Awareness Week: Why it Matters to Me.
      • Growth Awareness Week
      • Thyroid News-Newborn Screening-9.10.14
      • THYROID MOM HITS 2,000 LIKES
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-Thyroid Cancer-9.3.14
    • August 2014
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-8.27.14
      • Congenital Hypothyroidism and Thyroid Resistance: A Story About Heart
      • You Are Your Child’s Best Advocate
    • July 2014
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-7.30.14
      • Thyroid Imbalance: A Yin-Yang Perspective
      • My Child Has Congenital Hypothyroidism: A New Mom Confronts the Diagnosis
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-7.23.14
      • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-7.16.14
      • Undefeated Q2

Thyroid Mom

Raising awareness of Congenital Hypothyroidism and building support for parents and children

  • Parenting Kids With CH
  • Shared Stories
  • Thyroid News

ADHD and Thyroid Disorders

October 5, 2015 by Blythe 2 Comments

Untitled design-2

Is it a thyroid disorder?  Is it ADHD? Or both?

Many medical conditions share symptoms.  You’ve undoubtedly heard before that iron and vitamin D deficiencies have symptoms that mimic the symptoms many see with hypothyroidism.   But, how could ADHD be confused with a thyroid disorder?!  Here’s how:

Check out some of the symptoms of Graves’ Disease (hyperthyroidism) in Children from the Graves’ Disease and Thyroid Foundation:

  • nervousness — visible shakiness, tremors, wringing hands, kicking feet, difficulty sitting still
  • lack of concentration and attentiveness
  • poor memory skills
  • shaky hands that cause clumsiness and poor handwriting
  • erratic thought patterns and behaviors
  • irritability; mood swings
  • attitude changes
  • emotional outbursts (i.e. crying or yelling)
  • out-of-control or bizarre behaviors that require immediate help 

Now, check out some of the symptoms of ADHD (hyperactive type) from WebMD.com:

  • Constantly fidgets and squirms
  • Often leaves his or her seat in situations where sitting quietly is expected
  • Moves around constantly, often runs or climbs inappropriately
  • Talks excessively
  • Has difficulty playing quietly or relaxing
  • Is always “on the go,” as if driven by a motor
  • May have a quick temper or a “short fuse”

Here are some symptoms of hypothyroidism:

  • Mental fogginess
  • Difficulty with short- and long-term memory 

And finally, here are some symptoms of ADHD-Inattentive type from ADDitudemag.com:

  • Has trouble staying focused; is easily distracted
  • Appears not to listen when spoken to
  • Has difficulty remembering things and following instructions
  • Has trouble staying organized, planning ahead, and finishing projects

So, to sum up: nervousness, moodiness, forgetfulness and inattention are signs of both hyperthyroidism and ADHD and brain fog, inability to concentrate, memory issues, difficulty focusing and staying on task are symptoms of hypothyroidism and ADHD.  I have heard from many adults and parents of children with thyroid disorders that it was initially suspected or assumed that ADHD was the cause of symptoms that either they or their children were experiencing.  

The thyroid gland IS the metabolic center of your body.  It controls so many of your body’s functions.  It’s no wonder there are so many symptoms that can be linked to thyroid disorders.  However, mistaking a thyroid disorder for ADHD can have serious consequences as the treatments for both are quite different.   One interesting fact that I did find is that impulsivity is a symptom of many forms of ADHD but it is not typically reported as a symptom of thyroid disorders, so that may be helpful as you look to discern between the two health issues. (See Is It Your Thyroid or ADD?)  A 1997 study revealed that: “thyroid tests were performed in 43 ADHD children and 28 age- and gender-matched controls” and “sixteen ADHD children showed total triiodothyronine (TT3) levels which were slightly above the upper limit of normal”.  Interestingly the authors of this same study concluded that “lack of an association between thyroid function and ADHD, and counters the suggestion that thyroid function be routinely screened for in ADHD children”.  (See Thyroid function in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Toren P, et al. J Psychiatr Res. 1997 May-Jun;31(3):359-63.)  I’m surprised by this conclusion.  16 out of 43 ADHD kids in the study had TT3 levels above the normal limit.  Given the cost, both financially and emotionally, of treating a child with ADHD, it sure seems to me that it would be worth checking thyroid levels prior to beginning treatment for ADHD.

Once you’ve ruled out thyroid disorders or other health issues, and you (or your child) still feel off (inability to concentrate, impulsivity, moodiness, memory issues, etc.), you should consult a psychologist or psychiatrist.  If neither of those are accessible to you, talking with your general practitioner is an okay place to start.  ADHD has many forms and not everyone has the same symptoms. If you think you may have ADHD, check out ADDitude – it has a wealth of resources.  If you think your child has ADHD, you may also find Wrightslaw to be quite helpful.  

As you know, it is possible to have both a thyroid disorder and a type of ADHD.  In fact, I read one article about congenital hypothyroidism that suggested that ADHD can be a symptom of having too much L-thyroxine, in other words, if FT4 levels are too high, then the article suggests, that the child has an increased risk of experiencing ADHD symptoms. (See Management of CH).   Additionally, two studies done in 1993 revealed that “attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder is strongly associated w ith generalized resistance to thyroid hormone.” (See Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder in people with generalized resistance to thyroid hormone. Hauser P, et al, New England Journal of Medicine 1993 Apr 8;328(14):997-1001 and see Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and thyroid function. Weiss RE, et al, J Pediatr. 1993 Oct;123(4):539-45.).  That’s just a snapshot of the research that is available on the topic.  Parents of children with thyroid disorders, there is enough reason to stay on top of your child’s thyroid levels and talk openly with your child’s pediatric endocrinologist about the symptoms your child is experiencing.

My earliest school memories include being reprimanded for being distracted and having difficulty focusing.  Those issues with concentration persisted all the way through law school and into adulthood until I was diagnosed with a thyroid disorder.  While I still struggle with inattentiveness, it is different than brain fog, and I have learned as an adult to discern between the two and know that brain fog is significantly improved when my thyroid levels are in optimal range.  October is ADHD Awareness Month, so I hope this leaves you more aware of the connection between ADHD and thyroid disorders.

By Blythe Clifford aka Thyroid Mom

Additional Sources:

Dissociating attention deficits in children with ADHD and congenital hypothyroidism using multiple CPTs. Rovet JF1, Hepworth SL.

Management of CH

Neuropsychological Assessment

Is it your thyroid or ADHD?

It May Not Be ADHD

More from my site

  • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-9.16.15Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-9.16.15
  • Vitamin D and Your ThyroidVitamin D and Your Thyroid
  • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-9.30.15Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-9.30.15
  • Hypothyroidism in Children: Not So Rare After All!Hypothyroidism in Children: Not So Rare After All!
  • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-2.11.15Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-2.11.15
  • Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-3.11.15Wednesday Weekly Roundup-Thyroid News-3.11.15

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: ADHD and Congenital Hypothyroidism, ADHD and thyroid, brain fog and thyroid, Congenital Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Hypothyroidism in Children

Follow Me

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • RSS
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Tags

Adrenal Fatigue Armour Thyroid Autism auto immune disorders Blood Draws Congenital Hypothyroidism Diet Energy Events Fluoride foods for hyperthyroidism Grave's Disease Growth Hashimoto's Helping Kids With CH hydration and thyroid hyperthyroidism Hypoparathyroidism Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism in Children Inspiration Iodine and thyroid Kidney Function Medication mental health My Journey Newborn Screening Parenting Pregnancy Pregnancy and Thyroid Related Disorders Rise&Thrive Shared Stories sjogrens Support synthroid T3 Thyroid Cancer Thyroid Disorders Thyroidectomy Thyroid Mom Announcements Thyroid News Vitamin B Vitamin D weight gain and thyroid

About Thyroid Mom

thyroid mom family

I am a mother of two beautiful boys, both born with Congenital Hypothyroidism.  I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism during my late twenties and later learned that it was Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  My husband was diagnosed with Graves' Disease (hyperthyroidism) shortly before our oldest son was born. … Read More

Creative Commons License
thyroidmom.com by Blythe Clifford is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Disclaimer

This website is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for consulting a physician regarding medical advice pertaining to you or your child's health. I am not responsible for any loss, injury or damage allegedly arising from any information published in this website.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.