Several conditions can cause symptoms that resemble ADHD, including mood disorders, diabetes, or hearing problems. An accurate diagnosis from a mental health professional is key to ensuring proper treatment.

About 1 in 9 U.S. children has received a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ADHD is one of the most commonTrusted Source neurobehavioral disorders in children.

Parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals may suspect ADHD when they notice careless mistakes, fidgeting, or forgetfulness. However, many medical conditions can mirror ADHD symptoms, which can make getting a correct diagnosis difficult.

As part of the diagnostic process, doctors consider alternative explanations to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment. Here are some conditions that may resemble ADHD.

The most difficult differential diagnosis for doctors to make is between ADHD and bipolar disorder. These two conditions are often hard to distinguish because they share several symptoms, including:

  • mood changes
  • outbursts
  • restlessness
  • talkativeness
  • impatience

But while bipolar disorder is primarily a mood disorder, ADHD affects attention and behavior.

People with bipolar disorder appear to display ADHD symptoms during manic episodes, such as restlessness, trouble sleeping, and hyperactivity.

During depressive episodes, symptoms such as lack of focus, lethargy, and inattention can also mirror those of ADHD. However, people with bipolar disorder may experience difficulty falling asleep or may sleep too much. People with ADHD can have similar sleep issues due to hyperactivity and restlessness, but they’re more common with bipolar disorder.

The differences between ADHD and bipolar disorder are subtle and may go unnoticed. ADHD symptoms first appear in childhood, while bipolar disorder tendsTrusted Source to develop in late adolescence or early adulthood, although doctors may diagnose some cases earlier.

ADHD symptoms occur continuously, while bipolar disorder symptoms are usually episodic. Bipolar disorder symptoms may not occur during periods between episodes of mania or depression.

Children with ADHD may experience difficulty with sensory overstimulation, like transitions from one activity to the next. Children with bipolar disorder typically respond to disciplinary actions and conflict with authority figures.

Children with bipolar disorder may engage in impulsive behavior. They may demonstrate grandiose thinking and take up projects they clearly cannot complete at their age and developmental level.

“Growing up, everyone thought I was some jerk kid who lashed out with this enormous anger all the time. My parents were confused and my teachers thought I was a troublemaker with impulse issues. Doctors thought I could not control my anger and sadness due to learning disabilites and depression. That is until one day, a doctor finally told me I had bipolar disorder.”

  • Jessica McNeil, living with bipolar disorder

Only a mental health professional can accurately differentiate between ADHD and bipolar disorder. A primary care physician, pediatrician, or school counseling center can often refer you to one.

Children with autism spectrum disorder often appear detached from their environments and may find social interactions challenging. In some cases, the behavior of autistic children may resemble the hyperactivity and social development issues common in children with ADHD.

Other behaviors may include emotional immaturity, which may also be seen with ADHD.

Social skills and the ability to learn may be inhibited in children with both conditions, which can cause issues in school and at home. However, in ADHD, social problems are usually secondary to symptoms like hyperactivity or inattention. With autism, social challenges are a primary feature.

Something as simple as low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can also mimic the symptoms of ADHD.

Hypoglycemia in children may cause:

  • uncharacteristic aggression
  • hyperactivity
  • inability to sit still
  • inability to concentrate

Children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) may show symptoms similar to inattentive type ADHD, according to a 2022 study. This may be due to damage to specific brain areas from diabetes, causing problems with executive function and memory.

Some experts recommend routine bloodwork prior to an ADHD diagnosis. This allows doctors to check for factors like A1C levels that may indicate diabetes.

It’s possible for a child to have both diabetes and ADHD. A 2024 study notes that children with ADHD are 37% more likely to have T1D.

Sensory processing disorder (SPD) can produce symptoms similar to ADHD. SPD is marked by under- or oversensitivity to:

  • touch
  • movement
  • body position
  • sound
  • taste
  • sight
  • smell

For example, children with SPD may be sensitive to a certain fabric. They may fluctuate from one activity to the next, and they may be prone to accidents or have difficulty paying attention, especially if they feel overwhelmed.

It may be difficult to diagnose hearing problems in young children who don’t know how to fully express themselves.

However, hearing problems can make it difficult for a child to pay attention. Missing details of conversations may appear to be due to a lack of focus when, in fact, they simply can’t follow along.

Children with hearing problems may also have difficulty in social situations and have underdeveloped communication techniques.

Children with ADHD may have difficulty calming down and falling asleep. However, some children with sleep disorders may display symptoms of ADHD during waking hours without actually having the condition.

Lack of sleep can make it difficult to concentrate, communicate, and follow directions. It can also decrease short-term memory.

Several studies have identified that young people with thyroid disorders may experience difficulties with memory, executive function, and attention. Specific conditions with links to these symptoms include:

Thyroid disorders can often look like ADHD, especially early in the disease, while thyroid function is still fairly typical. Other symptoms of thyroid disorders in children can includeTrusted Source:

  • constipation
  • delayed growth
  • dry skin
  • fatigue

Absence seizures (aka petit mal seizures) are short episodes lasting 4 to 30 secondsTrusted Source that can cause unresponsiveness and staring spells. This may appear similar to the daydreaming and inattentiveness in some children with ADHD.

Arriving at an accurate diagnosis is essential as the two conditions require very different treatments. There’s some concern that stimulant medications used to treat ADHD may increase the risk of seizures in children with epilepsy, but more research is needed.

Some children with an ADHD diagnosis are actually misdiagnosed and don’t have ADHD or any other health condition. They’re simply being themselves, such as easily excitable or bored.

Several studies suggest that the age of a child relative to their peers can influence a teacher’s perception of whether the child may have ADHD.

Children who are young for their grade level may receive a misdiagnosis of ADHD because teachers mistake their lower maturity level for ADHD.

ADHD is a common condition in both children and adults.

However, if you feel like an ADHD diagnosis might not be correct, continue seeking help. It’s possible that you or your child have a different condition altogether.