| If your child is showing signs of Attention Deficit | | | | much on information from third parties. |
| Hyperactivity Disorder, you may be wondering how | | | | To lessen the possibility of an ADHD misdiagnosis, |
| health practitioners test for ADHD. The truth is that | | | | keep track of his behaviour very carefully for a period |
| there are actually many tests to diagnose ADD and | | | | of several weeks or even months. If possible, have the |
| ADHD and that the best practitioners use a | | | | child's teacher keep a log of the times the child's |
| combination of these tests to determine whether or | | | | ADHD symptoms interfere with his functioning in the |
| not a child has ADHD. | | | | classroom or on the playground. Keep the same type |
| A good test for ADHD will involve information from | | | | of log whenever you are with your child; write down |
| several sources, including parents, teachers, and the | | | | the date, time, and a detailed description of the incident |
| child himself if he is old enough. For this reason, ADHD | | | | whenever the child is showing excessive hyperactivity |
| is difficult to diagnose in preschool-aged children. A | | | | or impulsivity. Having such information written down will |
| different set of tests is required to officially diagnose | | | | help your doctor make the most accurate diagnosis |
| very young children with ADHD, so we will set that | | | | possible. |
| scenario aside for this brief article. | | | | Lastly, you need to realize that as a parent, it's up to |
| Different practitioners use different tests to diagnose | | | | you what you do with a diagnosis once it is made. |
| ADD and ADHD, but the best of these tests are | | | | Chances are likely that if your child is diagnosed with |
| formulated specifically for ADD and ADHD instead of | | | | ADHD, your physician will suggest starting a medication |
| a wide variety of possible behavioural disorders. The | | | | regimen. Understand, though, that there are other |
| tests will be administered to the child, and they will also | | | | options out there, even if your child is only borderline |
| include questionnaires for teachers and parents. | | | | ADHD or shows some of its symptoms without being |
| Most often, specially trained professionals will rely not | | | | diagnosed with the disorder. |
| only on written information provided by caregivers and | | | | Look into all your options, including homeopathic |
| the child herself, but also on interviews. This | | | | therapy, before having your child put on potentially |
| combination of methods ensures that a practitioner is | | | | harmful medications. Unlike traditional medications, |
| making the clearest, most accurate diagnosis possible. | | | | homeopathic remedies have no side effects and are |
| There are a few things you should know when going | | | | safe even for children who are borderline ADHD or |
| through a test for ADHD with your child. First of all, if | | | | who may just be more hyperactive or impulsive than |
| your physician or psychologist is not taking his time | | | | normal children. After you have gone to all the trouble |
| with the test or is not using information from a variety | | | | of a test for ADHD, don't throw it out the window by |
| of resources, he is not doing his job thoroughly enough. | | | | blindly following wherever your doctor leads. Be sure |
| Either press him to be as thorough and accurate as | | | | that you know what you are getting your child into, and |
| possible or take your child elsewhere. Secondly, | | | | don't be afraid to go against the grain by trying |
| understand that even the most careful, deliberate | | | | alternative therapies. You'll be glad you put in the extra |
| professional can make a mistake when it comes to | | | | time to do the research on better options for your |
| diagnosing ADHD because the diagnosis relies so | | | | child's health. |