Both disorders in children can present with hyperactivity, dangerous impulsive play, oppositionality, defiance, and irritability. However, ADHD is common and Bipolar Disorder relatively rare in children, with an incidence less than a small fraction of a per cent. The key to differentiating the two is that ADHD is chronic and Bipolar Disorder periodic, i.e. there will be usually long time intervals during which a child will do well without interventions. Children with ADHD have a higher percentage of tics than otherwise. Tics are extraneous movements like eye blinks or facial twitches that they cannot control.
Stimulant medication can make worse or precipitate tics.
There doesn t seem to be any particular problem with having tics, except when they disturb the child or cause social embarrassment. An interesting triad of ADHD, OCD and Tic Disorder can offer particular challenges for treatment and recovery. All rights reserved.