What Determines the Diagnosis of Adhd?

Âone specific place such as the playground or the
Âschoolroom?
Most people sometimes jump from one task toÂ
another, or become disorganized and forgetful.ÂA specialist will compare the person's pattern of
Not everyone who is inattentive or impulsive hasbehavior against a set of criteria and characteristics of
ADHD. The diagnosis requires these behaviorsthe disorder as listed in the DSM-IV-TR.
be demonstrated to a degree that is inappropriate forÂ
the person's age. There are also diagnosticWhat should you do if you notice your toddler showing
guidelines that contain specific requirements forsigns of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity?
determining when the symptoms indicateÂ
ADHD. Guidelines include:- Consult with your child's pediatrician, a child
Âpsychologist or psychiatrist.Â
- Must appear early in life, before age 7- Children mature at different rates, are different in
- And continue for at least 6 monthspersonality, temperament, and energy levels.Â
- The behaviors, above all else, must create a real- It is useful to get an expert's opinion of whether the
handicap in at least two areas of a person's life.Âbehavior is appropriate for the child's age to assess if
These areas include:Â the schoolroom, thethe behavior is due to ADHD.Â
playground, at home, in the community, or in social- The toddler could be just immature or unusually
settings.exuberant.
ÂÂ
A person who shows some symptoms, but whoseADHD tends to affect functioning most strongly in
schoolwork or friendships are not impaired by theseschool. Sometimes it is the teacher the first to
behaviors would not be diagnosed with ADHD.Ârecognize that a child is hyperactive or inattentive and
A child who seems overly active on the playground,may suggest the parents consult with a
but functions well elsewhere would not receive aspecialist.Â
diagnosis of ADHD.Â
ÂTeachers work with many children and they come to
How do specialists assess whether or not a child hasknow how the "average" child behaves in learning
ADHD?situations that require attention and self-control.Â
ÂHowever, a child who is inattentive and passive, but
The specialists consider several critical questions thatalso quiet and cooperative may go unnoticed in the
include:classroom as having the predominantly inattentive
Âform of ADHD.
- Are these behaviors excessive, long-term andÂ
pervasive?Source:Â National Institute of Mental Health
- Do these behaviors occur more often than in otherÂ
children the same age?Disclaimer:Â These statements have not been
- Are they a continuous problem and not just aevaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.Â
response to a temporary situation?The information in this article is not intended to
- Do the behaviors occur in several settings or only indiagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.