PsychEducation.org (home)
Dr. Geller's Research:
Distinguishing ADHD and Bipolar
Here is the matched graph, and some details on each feature:
General consideration on "mania" in kids:
Elation (the kind of criteria Dr. Geller and colleagues used):

Grandiosity (ditto):
Here is a summary table, from a review article by Dr. Scheffer and Apps, of the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Program, Medical College of Wisconsin.
| Symptom | Bipolar Disorder | ADHD |
| Euphoria/giddiness | Excessive | Appropriate to situations |
| Irritability | Severe and intense, accompanied by tantrums | Occasional, may be caused by medication "wear-off" |
| Self-esteem | Grandiose | Demoralized |
| Sleep patterns | Decreased need for sleep | Difficulty settling at night |
| Speech patterns | Pressured, fragmented, with flight of ideas | Energetic and quick |
| Thought processes | Racing thoughts; psychosis can occur | Patients do not report racing thoughts |
| Attention | Distractible | Distractible |
| Activity level | High energy, on-the-go, multiple projects,
creative High risk behaviors, impulsive |
Hyperactive, multiple projects; impulsive |
| Disruptive behaviors | Can become aggressive | Intrusive and active |