| If your child is exhibiting AD/HD (attention deficit | | | | issues in the classroom, for instance. |
| hyperactivity disorder) symptoms, should you rush to | | | | Pediatric neurologists diagnose and treat central |
| the doctor for a final diagnosis? Well, it's hard to say. It | | | | nervous system disorders in children. They usually don't |
| really depends on the severity of the symptoms and | | | | treat kids with AD/HD, unless they exhibit a tic or a |
| their duration. If something happened yesterday that | | | | syndrome, like Tourette's, if it's associated with the |
| never happened before, you're worrying for nothing. If | | | | child's AD/HD. |
| it's something that you've seen in your child's behavior | | | | Clinical psychologists aren't medical doctors. They're |
| over a period of six months or more, then put your | | | | PhDs and they will provide diagnosis and treatment of |
| fears to rest. Find out if your child has AD/HD and | | | | AD/HD. They want to discover what the underlying |
| learn to deal with it. | | | | causes of AD/HD might be in the child, and address |
| But who can give you that diagnosis? If you have | | | | them. The whole family may be part of the affected |
| never dealt with ADD or ADHD before, you probably | | | | child's treatment. Though they don't issue |
| don't know that you can count on a variety of | | | | medications,they will recommend it to your family |
| sources. Online resources may be helpful, as will | | | | physician or pediatrician, when they feel it's needed. |
| pediatricians, family doctors, teachers and school | | | | Pediatric neuropsychologists are also PhDs, but with a |
| officials, but the most helpful references you may | | | | post-doctoral specialty in training. They can evaluate |
| receive will come from parents of children who have | | | | your child for AD/HD, and are helpful in determining a |
| already been diagnosed. Recommendations may be | | | | child's specific strengths and weaknesses through the |
| for pediatricians, psychologists, neurologists or | | | | study of their brain function. Though they do not offer |
| psychiatrists, too. | | | | treatment, they will prepare suggestions for you and |
| So, what makes one resource better than another? | | | | your child's teachers on how to approach your child's |
| To help you determine, here are the differences | | | | particular brand of AD/HD. |
| among the available resources: | | | | Educational psychologists have either a master's |
| Pediatricians complete four years of medical school, an | | | | degree or a PhD in education, and specialize in learning |
| internship, and a residency in their specialty. They can | | | | disabilities. Though they can diagnose AD/HD, their only |
| diagnose illnesses and they watch how your child | | | | assistance be in designing your AD/HD child's |
| grows. They can diagnose AD/HD, but their practices | | | | specialized education. In conjunction with |
| are mainly quick visits, not long evaluations. If they | | | | recommendations made by a pediatric |
| suspect AD/HD, they will probably send you on for | | | | neuropsychologist, this can be very powerful. |
| further evaluation. | | | | Though any of these professionals can diagnose your |
| Developmental pediatricians specialize in watching a | | | | child, not all of them will be right for him or her with |
| child's growth in many areas--physical, social, and | | | | regard to ADD or ADHD. Choose the right person for |
| mental, and they will make a full analysis of your child | | | | you, and if you're comfortable and your child is |
| for AD/HD. When they discover that this is the cause | | | | comfortable with their help and advice, then you're on |
| of a developmental issue, they will treat the | | | | the right track. But don't hesitate. Don't let your child go |
| development issue. When they find other problems | | | | through 2 or 3 grades before coming to a diagnosis. |
| associated with juvenile AD/HD, they will probably | | | | That only leads to more stress for everyone. Allow a |
| form a team of specialists to address everything else. | | | | professional to tell you whether or not your child has |
| Child psychiatrists have medical degrees and specialize | | | | ADD or ADHD when you or a teacher suspects it. |
| in childhood mental abnormalities. Though they | | | | When the diagnosis comes, explain to them that they |
| diagnose AD/HD, they rarely provide counseling. Think | | | | are special, and work on finding areas where their |
| of them like the pediatrician of the mind. They will | | | | quick, intelligent, and creative brains can flourish. If you |
| diagnose and prescribe, and they will monitor the | | | | do this early, your child will have greater self-esteem, |
| prescription's affect on your child's particular brand of | | | | and lead a happier, more productive life. |
| AD/HD, but they will offer little help with behavioral | | | | |