Diagnosing ADHD
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Video Description:It can be tough to diagnose ADHD. If you believe your child may have the disorder, keep watching to learn the steps a doctor may take.
Transcript:Your normally bright child suddenly has problems staying focused in the classroom. At home, he can’t remember the details of his homework, and it’s a real chore to get him to sit still long enough to try it. You’re worried—could it be AD/HD? Symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or AD/HD, include impatience, fidgeting and an inability to focus. Children with AD/HD are often intelligent and extremely creative—they simply have less control over their impulses than other children of the same age. It’s important to have a qualified medical professional make a diagnosis of AD/HD. In some cases, a boisterous, energetic child is exactly that, and has no disorder at all. Diagnosing AD/HD is tricky. No blood test, MRI or other medical procedure can determine if someone has the disorder. Diagnosis depends entirely on a doctor’s interpretation of the symptoms, through his own observations and those of others who know the patient well. In fact, AD/HD is much more frequently diagnosed in the U.S.A. than in other countries. This is in part because of differing attitudes towards the disorder, in the U.S.A. AD/HD is treated more as a medical condition, whereas other countries are more narrow with their definition of the disease. To ensure accuracy, look for a pediatrician or child psychologist who has some experience with AD/HD. Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend a comprehensive assessment for AD/HD. Throughout the process, the doctor must consider if the symptoms have persisted for six months or longer, are interfering with the patient’s ability to function, and are indeed more severe than the behavior exhibited by other children of the same age. Expect at least two doctor’s visits before a diagnosis is made. First, the doctor will take a detailed medical history of your child and of your entire family, including allergies, illnesses and medications used. Doctors believe that AD/HD has a strong genetic component. To rule out other medical causes for your child’s symptoms, a physical examination will be performed, including hearing and vision tests. It is difficult to diagnose ADHD in children 5 years of age and younger. This is because many preschool children have some ADHD symptoms in various situations. In addition, children change very rapidly during the preschool years. It is also difficult to diagnose ADHD once a child becomes a teenager due to adolescent hormonal fluctuations. There is no single test for ADHD. The process requires several steps and involves gathering a lot of information from multiple sources. You, your child, your child's school, and other caregivers should be involved in assessing your child's behavior. Questions may be asked about classroom performance, relationships with others and independence, among other topics. This part of the assessment may be coordinated with the psychologist at your child’s school. Do not attempt to diagnose AD/HD without speaking to a physician. Effective treatment, including behavior management and medication, starts with the proper diagnosis from your doctor. To learn more about the basics of AD/HD, and how it can be treated, be sure to check out the other videos available in this series.
Category:Kids Health/ADHD
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