| It is unbelievable how many children are affected by | | | | three groups: Predominantly Inattentive, Predominantly |
| ADHD and almost half of these children go into | | | | Hyperactive-Impulsive or Combined Type. Usually the |
| adulthood with signs and symptoms of ADHD. | | | | signs and symptoms must be present for at least 6 |
| Attention deficit hyperactive disorder affects males | | | | months or more. The Tenth edition of the International |
| twice as often as females. ADHD evaluation is a | | | | Statistical Classification of Disease and Related Health |
| process by which a child is diagnosed to have ADHD. | | | | Problems (ICD-10) is used by other countries in ADHD |
| This is a process that involves going on interviews and | | | | evaluation. There are other criteria used to diagnose |
| answering detailed checklists regarding behaviour. Your | | | | ADHD and there is also some differential diagnosis. |
| child may also be observed for his reaction in different | | | | Some questions often asked in ADHD evaluation |
| circumstances such as when he is at school or at play. | | | | include: |
| A physical exam and a medical history may also | | | | - Does your child have trouble paying attention? |
| prove to be helpful in the diagnosis of ADHD. | | | | - Is your child easily distracted? |
| ADHD evaluation is often done when the child has | | | | - Does your child answer before the question is |
| been observed to have problems in coping up with | | | | finished? |
| schoolwork. However, certain conditions need to be | | | | - Is your child excessively talkative? |
| ruled out such as learning disorders, visual or auditory | | | | - Does your child ignore details? |
| problems, anemia, hyperthyroidism and other diseases. | | | | - Can your child follow simple instructions? |
| Usually parents bring their children to a therapist or a | | | | - Is your child restless? |
| doctor after a teacher has complained of unwanted | | | | If you had answered yes to one or more of those |
| behaviour. Poor attention, low grades and misbehaviour | | | | questions, it might be time for you to take your child to |
| are often causes the teachers to be concerned about | | | | a doctor to see if your child has ADHD. ADHD may |
| a child's welfare. The teachers then call the parents for | | | | not be curable but is very treatable and manageable |
| a conference to let them know about how their child is | | | | with the right therapeutic regimen. ADHD evaluation is |
| doing in school. | | | | not a one day process. It can take days, weeks and |
| There are different ways to diagnose and confirm that | | | | possibly months to confirm that your child has ADHD. |
| a child is indeed suffering from ADHD and these are | | | | Make no mistake about it ADHD is a real condition that |
| encompassed in certain accepted criteria. The DSM-IV | | | | needs to be addressed as early as possible to ensure |
| is the criteria used in the United States to diagnose | | | | that proper treatment and care would be given. |
| ADHD. The DSM-IV also classifies ADHD cases into | | | | |