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How Do You Know if it's ADHD?

You think your child is a normal kid. Sure, he’s excitable, has a hard time sitting still, and is a little aggressive when he plays. But boys will be boys. Then you start hearing complaints his babysitter, and his teacher asks if your son could have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Could he -- and if he did, could you tell?

“Don’t assume ADHD just because your child is having difficulty with grades, or seems excitable and hyper. There are indicators, however, which may merit further investigation. For instance, if you’re receiving multiple complaints from teachers, babysitters, their friends’ parents and others, about your child’s inattention or behavior; or if your child’s hyper activity is leading to injuries to themselves or others.” [Source: Canada.com'

If you suspect ADHD, your child needs to undergo a thorough assessment from a healthcare provider who is trained in diagnosing attention disorders. Don’t rush to find a diagnosis. Take enough time to compile definitive results. The better you understand what’s really happening with your child, the better you’ll be able to help him.


 

Labels: diagnosis

Posted By: 4ADHD.com

Comments:

former_teacher on 5/11/2010
This is great advice. Too many parents (and, many times, too many teachers, too) want an "easy" ADHD diagnosis instead of taking the time to figure out the true cause of what they perceive to be problematic behavior. So many problems can lead to "bad behavior" in the classroom that ends up being blamed on ADHD? Can the child see the board? Is the student having trouble reading? Is bullying or another type of harassment stressing the student past his/her breaking point? There are so many issues to consider, and snapping up the first answer that sounds right only guarantees that the problems will persist.