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Could my child have ADHD?

All children are restless or forgetful sometimes. This page explains the signs of ADHD, what to do if you are worried, and what help you can get in Georgia.

In short

  • Signs of ADHD usually start before the age of 12.1
  • Signs include being very easily distracted, forgetting everyday tasks, finding it hard to sit still and acting without thinking.1
  • There is no simple test. A specialist decides, after talking with you and your child and hearing from the school.2
  • A good first step is to talk to your child's teacher and your family doctor.2

Last checked: 16 October 2026

Common signs

A child with ADHD may:1

With attention

  • be very easily distracted
  • find it hard to listen or to follow instructions
  • forget everyday tasks, like brushing their teeth or putting on socks

With energy and self-control

  • have very high energy
  • fidget or tap their hands and feet
  • talk a lot or loudly
  • get up and move around when they are supposed to sit still
  • find it hard to wait their turn, or interrupt others

Most children with ADHD have signs of both kinds. Some have only one.1

Good to know: many children under 5 are easily distracted and full of energy without having ADHD. Tiredness, worry or stress can cause similar signs.1

ADHD is noticed less often in girls. Girls more often have the quieter, inattentive kind, which is easier to miss.1

What to do if you are worried

  1. Write down what you notice. What happens, when, how often, and whether it happens at home, at school or both.
  2. Talk to your child's teacher. Ask how your child is doing in class and with other children.2
  3. See your family doctor or your child's pediatrician. They will ask about the signs, how they affect daily life, and check for other possible causes.2
  4. Ask for a referral to a specialist, such as a child psychiatrist. In Georgia, most specialists work in Tbilisi.2,3
  5. Ask the school about support. Georgian schools have a system for children with special educational needs. Support at school4

What happens at an assessment

  • The specialist talks with you and your child about the signs and about family life.
  • They ask about your child's development, for example when they started walking or reading.
  • You may be asked to fill in forms. The specialist may also ask the school how your child is doing.
  • There is no blood test or scan for ADHD.
  • If your child has ADHD, the specialist explains what it means and what can help.

Other conditions can look like ADHD, for example anxiety or autism. The specialist will consider these too.2

How to help at home

These steps help many children with ADHD:5

  • Break homework and other tasks into short parts of 15 to 20 minutes, with breaks in between.
  • Give clear, simple instructions, one at a time, in a calm voice.
  • Keep a to-do list where your child can see it.
  • Praise good behaviour, or use a reward chart.
  • Make time every day for physical activity your child enjoys.
  • Keep regular times for sleep and meals.

Treatment and help in Georgia

Treatment usually combines support at home and at school, therapy, and for some children, medicine.6

  • Therapy is mostly private, and it is expensive.3
  • The ADHD medicines used most often in Europe, such as Ritalin or Concerta, are not sold in Georgia. Only atomoxetine is sold, and it can be hard to find.7

Diagnosis and treatment in Georgia

This page gives general information. It does not replace advice from a doctor.

Where this information comes from

  1. NHS (UK National Health Service). "Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Symptoms."
  2. NHS (UK National Health Service). "Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Diagnosis."
  3. Radio Tavisupleba (13 June 2026). "It helps you live but causes trouble with the law: what happens if ADHD medicine is found on you?" (in Georgian; title translated). RFE/RL.
  4. Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia (12 February 2024). Order No. 25/ნ amending Order No. 16/ნ of 21 February 2018 on inclusive education and identifying students with special educational needs (in Georgian).
  5. NHS (UK National Health Service). "Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Living with."
  6. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK). NG87: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management (2018, updated 2019).
  7. "ADHD in Georgia." adhd.ge, an independent volunteer site. Includes the Ministry of Health's reply of February 2023. Last updated 9 July 2026.