It would be easy to label every healthy, lively child as hyperactive. So how do you tell the difference?

Here are some tell-tale signs to look out for:

IN INFANCY:

Excessive crying, sometimes screaming and a refusal to be pacified or comforted. The child is restless and sleeps very little. He is difficult to feed by breast or bottle, dribbles excessively and may be very thirsty (thirst is a cardinal sign of Essential Fatty Acid deficiency). Head banging and cot-rocking are common and the child may not crawl but begin to walk and run around at a very early age. Some children sleep well but may have night terrors.

IN OLDER CHILDREN:

Clumsy and accident prone.

Erratic and disruptive behaviour. Fits and tantrums.

Compulsive touching of everything and everyone. Constant motion, wriggles legs. May walk on toes, and runs everywhere.

Disturbs other children and may be aggressive.

Unable to concentrate, never finishes anything he/she begins. Demands must be met immediately. Frustration leads to temper tantrums. Easily distracted and often unable to follow instructions. Lack of social skills.

Normal or high IQ but may do badly at school. "Jekyll and Hyde" moodiness. There may also be some specific learning difficulties.

Poor hand and eye coordination. Uncooperative, defiant and disobedient.

Not every child will have all the symptoms above, and of course there are degrees of the problem. As they reach puberty hyperactive children may experience a spontaneous change in their behaviour patterns, with a lessening of hyperactivity and aggression. However, it is common for underlying problems to remain and it is essential that attention to diet is maintained and other forms of help sought.

Parents report some physical health problems such as asthma, eczema, aches and pains, hayfever, headaches, bedwetting, poor appetite, flushed or pale complexion, excessive perspiration, red ears. "Silliness" in general.