Diagnosing ADHD in Your Child, an Introduction

Everyone in a private practice setting who works with children or adults is going to have their own opinion on how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - ADD or ADHD - should be diagnosed. Some clinics take the perspective that "more is good," and will recommend a large battery of tests, often costing many thousands of dollars. Other clinics, typically with hurried physicians, will simply give a brief rating scales to the parents and then make a quick diagnosis and prescribe treatment, usually a medication.

Unfortunately neither of these extremes is in the patient's best interest.

If you are the parent of a child or teenager who is struggling in school, and perhaps at life in general, you should be familiar with what makes this disorder we call Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

First, the symptom of inattention. The person has trouble with focusing on the right thing, long enough to get it done. A lot of people, including his parents, complain that he just doesn't seem to listen when spoken to. Because of not sustaining attention, or because of acting like a "space cadet," he doesn't finish his chores or homework. He can't keep his mind on what he's doing for very long unless it is very exciting, or very entertaining, and he doesn't pay close attention to what he's doing, so he makes a lot of careless mistakes. Video games are an exception because they give immediate feedback, they are exciting, and they are fun. Chores and homework are not.The inattention is seen most with homework, chores, and other boring things that you want him to do.

He's really disorganized. Most commonly this is seen in spending three hours to finally finish his homework, then losing it at school (it's in his backpack), or forgetting to turn it in. He really tries to avoid doing homework or chores. He gets distracted easily, or pays attention to the wrong thing at the wrong time. He is often forgetful and has to be reminded to do things often.

The great majority of people diagnosed with ADHD have problems with inattention.

The next classic symptom is poor impulse control, or a lack of self-control. Not all people with ADHD have this problem, but many do. He often blurts out answers in class.
He can't wait his turn when he is playing games or at school, and pushes ahead in lines. He interrupts others a lot, he just doesn't wait well. He tends to do things without thinking about them first, and says things he doesn't think about first. He does not consider the consequences of his actions.

About half of those diagnosed with ADHD are hyperactive. Since the word "hyperactive" is in the name itself you might think that everyone with the disorder must be hyperactive, but such is not the case. There are probably five or six types of ADHD, each one different from the other in terms of brain function. You can learn more about the different types of ADHD at the ADHD Information Library.

How do you know if your child or teen is hyperactive?

He has happy hands and feet which fidget and squirm a lot. He just can't stay in his seat for very long when he's supposed to at school or the dinner table. He may run around too much, or climb on things he's not supposed to. He is often just too loud. He is "On the go" as if he is "driven by a motor." He talks too much. He leaves footprints across the ceiling.

It is important to note that at least some of these symptoms must have been seen before the age of seven. Also, that at least some of the symptoms are seen both at home and at school. Also, that these behaviors are really a problem. Not just a little bit, but a lot.

Please be aware that there are several reasons why a child could have these symptoms besides Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. For example, thyroid problems, depression, anxiety disorders, hearing problems, and so on. Please do not attempt to "diagnose" your child. See your doctor, or go to a qualified mental health professional. This web site is no substitute for talking with an expert.

Keep in mind that over-diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a big problem. There are some children who are diagnosed as having ADHD that do not have it. It is not uncommon for someone with depression, or anxiety, specific learning disabilities, early onset bi-polar disorder, or Tourette's Syndrome, to be diagnosed as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This is often the result of a diagnostic "work-up" which is too brief and does not take into account the many reasons why a child might be inattentive, impulsive, or over-active.

But over-diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is not the only problem.

Under-diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is also a problem. This happens most often in the school setting where the school psychologist writes his report perfectly describing an individual with ADHD, then refuses to use the label "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" in his report anywhere.

It also often happens in therapist's offices where the therapist is not familiar with the neurological aspects of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and only sees the characteristic behaviors as "acting out behaviors" due to family problems, rebelliousness, and so on. Therapists operating entirely from a "Family Systems" orientation are especially at risk for making this mistake, as I admit I did for my first two years in practice.

Some studies suggest that only one out of three people who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder will ever get help. Two out of three people who have ADHD will never receive a diagnosis or treatment. They will never really know what it is that's bothered them through their life. So we have two problems. One is the over-diagnosis and the other is the under-diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder.

Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library's family of seven web sites, including http://www.newideas.net, helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.

---

Potty Dolls to Accelerate Potty Training Success

Sometime the most effective training tool in rapidly accelerating the... Read More

Single Parenting: How The Challenge Of Single Parenting Affects Your Decision To Divorce

Single parenting has seemingly become an acceptable norm which is... Read More

Guide Your Kids! This 3-D Map Leads to Character

A tall, weary-looking mother with glasses, walked into my counseling... Read More

A Dialogue with an ADHD Non-Believer

Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More

Life Stuck In Fast Forward

the woes of being a parent of an ADHD child.....Like... Read More

Career Education: Does Not Mean the 6 Year College Plan

Researching career education uncovered the following shocking statistic: The average... Read More

Secrets from the Classroom: Avoiding Summer Learning Loss

In June, elementary school children across North America cheered as... Read More

Choosing Names For Twins

There are many reasons for treating your twins as individuals... Read More

My Dads Secrets

From the book Spider's Night on the BoomI've only begun... Read More

Organizing a Car Wash Fundraiser

The key to a successful car wash fundraiser event is... Read More

Entering Their Imaginative World

In dealing with children with autism spectrum disorders, its all... Read More

Maximizing Your ADHD Childs Performance in School.

As a parent there are lots of things that you... Read More

The Metamorphosis of The Brain: Raising Your child to be a Brainiac

The human brain never actually stops developing. Beginning formation in... Read More

What is Prenatal Intelligence?

Prenatal intelligence, also known as fetal intelligence, has become a... Read More

Now, They?re Bullying My Daughter in Our Home: Welcome to Cyber-bullying

Last night Tom's daughter, Sue, came out of her room... Read More

6 Tried & True Fun Ways to Educate and Entertain Your Preschooler

1. New Word of the DayIntroduce your preschooler to a... Read More

How to Set Healthy Limits at Work

Back in college, I wrote for a five-day-a-week, award-winning campus... Read More

Advantages of Using a Board Certified Pediatrician

When a child is born, a new number is added... Read More

MORAL ARMORS Irrational Parenting, Part III

Not Letting Them Think.We all implicitly know that anything questioning... Read More

Summer Survival

Summer Survival The... Read More

Life Lessons Learned in My Underwear

For several years now, I've told the following story as... Read More

Quality Time?

There's a phrase that's become popular over the past few... Read More

Want To Further Your Childrens Studies?

Being in a competitive world, the lowest qualification to secure... Read More

Clean Your House Green for your Children?s Sake

My thirteen-year-old daughter recently called me up to say she... Read More

Sanity Savers For Busy Mums Page

Question 1 "How do I get more time to play?"... Read More

Preparing Your Child for the Three Rs

There is little doubt that reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic are... Read More

Why Me?

Why Me?"We should certainly count our blessings, but we should... Read More

MORAL ARMORS Irrational Parenting, Part II

Handing Down Malignancy.Children may begin bright and eager to face... Read More

More Water, Not Less, Will Help End Bedwetting

Children are notoriously bad at drinking enough liquids. They are... Read More

Delightful Defrazzlers

I will cherish this moment. I will not let it... Read More

Discipline Without Damage

If your parenting methods include abuse of any kind; physical,... Read More

Child Abuse - Survey & Comments

Beyond cases reported to authorities, little knowledge exists on the... Read More

Why First Borns Fuss, Seconds Are Resilient and Last Borns Like To Laugh

How can two or three children in the same family... Read More