My son never settles down and hardly listens. tantrums have been horrible since 15 months. what are the signs/symptoms for add in a 2 year old?

Too young: He sounds like a normal 2 year old. As frustrating as it is , he will settle down - try to be consistent as you can be with him. 2 year old boys are bundles of energy from the second they wake until they go to sleep (i speak from personal experience as well on this - I have 2 who are now teenagers).

Terrible twos: Unfortunately, this behavior is where the term "terrible twos" came from. The diagnosis of add is not often made in a two year old, because this is an age where this behavior is common. I recommend you get some books on the terrible twos as there are several, and you will be able to get some insight and help on remedies to combat the behavior and improve it. Best wishes.

Severe tantrums: Your child appears to have severe tantrums. You may have to use medication that is used adhd such ams Ritalin (methylphenidate) or Concerta or ssri's like prozac. You want to enrollin a parent management program or give your child cognitive behavior therapy.

Difficult dx: I am not an everyday expert in adhd. However, i don't think you can accurately diagnose adhd in a 2 yo. I have advice to decrease the likelihood of developing adhd. Turn off the tvs, computers, video games. Never allow your son to spend more than an hour a day in a room with any of those devices. Set aside time to read to him every day. Spend time outside with him every day. Have conversations.

Symptoms of early-: Onset adhd appear, on average, ~ 2.7 years. Usually, there is a strong family history. Toddlers exposed prenatally to tobacco, alcohol, drugs or some medicines can display hyperactivity/impulsivity earlier. A 3-4 minute attention span is considered within normal limits thru preschool. Find a parent behavior management training class to learn how to " catch him being good" ; use time-out effectively.

Underlying problem?: This sounds like we should review the manifestations of the autistic spectrum.. Has his speech development been normal? does he have any self-stimulation behaviors like moving his fingers in front of his face or hand-flapping? does he put books or blocks on the floor in a line? Does he avoid eye contact? Does he understand what pointing means? Very limited diet?social interaction?