Some parents notice signs of inattention, hyperactivity, and
impulsivity in their kids before they even start school. The
child may not be able to sit still for very long or pay attention to
games or television. But just because a parent thinks their child
shows signs of ADHD does not mean that they have the disorder. Because
children develop and grow at very different rates, it is crucial to get
a professional's opinion of the child's growth and behavior. You
may want to wait until the child enters school to definitely diagnose
the disorder.
ADHD may not be noticed by parents or another family members, or it may
go unnoticed until the child runs into problems at school. Because
school is very structured and task-oriented, ADHD is more apparent than
anywhere else. Due to these circumstances, it is often a teacher
who first notices ADHD in a child. Teachers come into contact every day
with all types of children, and over time they become aware of children
who have learning difficulties in comparison to the average
child. Often, a teacher will mention this to the parents and
suggest getting the child evaluated for ADHD. One thing that
teachers do not notice, though, are children who are passive and blend
into the woodwork. Children with inattentive ADD are often quiet
and spacey, and these qualities do not stand out in the classroom.
These qualities are also not paired with the picture of the hyperactive
child that comes to mind when you think of ADHD.
Once it has been suggested that a child may have ADHD, the next step is
to rule out that the symptoms are not being caused by anything
physical. Physical disorders such as thyroid problems can mimic ADHD
symptoms. A general practitioner can physically evaluate your child to
rule this out. After this, it will be necessary to find a specialist
who is qualified to test the child. There are many types of specialists
that can diagnose ADHD, and it is up to the parents in finding one that
works. Doctors that test for ADHD are child psychologists,
psychiatrists, neurologists and other types of licensed mental health
professionals. If you have trouble finding someone who does the
testing, CHADD can be a great resource for this. A quick google search
will put you in touch with this organization.
After you find a specialist, you will need to bring the child being
evaluated as well as a family member who has known them since they were
young. A thorough history will need to be taken to accurately document
when the problems associated with ADHD began. After this has taken
place, several diagnostic tests will be given to test the presence of
ADHD.
There is no one age that ADHD is diagnosed, but it is very common that
once a child enters school that the symptoms will be more apparent in a
structured environment. But there are many individuals who are not
diagnosed until adulthood, and this is becoming more and more prevalent
as the rate of adults diagnosed with ADHD skyrockets.
Pay attention to the recommendations of the teachers. They have been
around the child for some time and are able to tell you if they suspect
that your child needs to be tested.
Keith Londrie II is a well known author. For more information on ADHD, please visit living-with-adhd.us/ ADHD for a wealth of information. You may also want to visit keith's own web site at keithlondrie.com/keithlondrie.com/