How NOT to Diagnose ADHD – Pitfalls to Avoid

Here are some pitfalls to avoid when you want to diagnose ADHD or better still, have it diagnosed by a suitably qualified health care professional. The first thing to do is to make sure that you are not given a diagnosis after ten minutes. The correct way to diagnose ADHD takes a lot longer. If you have been given a prescription for powerful mind-altering drugs after such a short visit, then you should be suspicious and seek a second opinion.

The first thing the specialist should do is to ask for a brief medical family history. As there is a definite genetic link in that about 25% of patients may have a close relative who suffers from ADHD, then this could be useful. Many adults themselves only discover they have ADHD when they bring their own children to be diagnosed.

The second thing to be done is to eliminate other conditions which have rather similar symptoms. These could include thyroid problems, lead poisoning, anxiety, depression and seizures which have gone undetected. Sometimes a traumatic or dramatic event in the family can also produce ADHD like symptoms.

Many health care professionals do not want to be bothered too much with the questionnaires to diagnose ADHD but these must be done as one is for the child’s teacher and her observations are an important element in the ADHD puzzle. Once all this information is gathered, the doctor may consult the DSM manual, the 4th edition, and then decide. Just because there is an ADHD symptom or two, does not necessarily mean that it is ADHD. It is much more complex than that! Another pitfall to avoid is to steer clear of professionals who give rough and ready diagnosis at the drop of a hat.

We do not know the exact cause of ADHD and indeed it may be due to a number of causes working in tandem. The main emphasis now in ADHD diagnosis is that of a chemical imbalance in the brain. One can think of it as rather like having a poor signal on your mobile. The ADHD child is having very similar problems in organizing input and indeed in getting his act together like simple tasks which require focus and or attention.

Life experiences plus environmental factors may also play a decisive role in the causes of ADHD and also how they interact with the biological factor.

If the specialist knows how to diagnose ADHD correctly, then there is a good chance that he might prescribe the right treatment which is some medication combined with child behavior modification techniques. Why not learn more about medication options by visiting my website below.

About the Author

Yes,you CAN raise happier, calmer and better behaved children. Discover how important it is to diagnose ADHD correctly. Experts now tell us that child behavior modification combined with a natural treatment for ADHD is by far the most effective ADHD treatment. Visit http://www.child-behavior-home.com to find out more about ADHD child behavior problems.

Social Anxiety

Quick Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria from DSM-IV-TR $21.90 The Quick Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria From DSM-IV-TR® is a handy, low priced companion to the ultimate psychiatric reference, DSM-IV-TR®. It includes all the diagnostic criteria from DSM-IV-TR® in an easy-to-use, paperback format. In making DSM-IV diagnosis, clinicians and researchers may find it convenient to consult the Quick Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria From DSM-IV-TR®, a p…

DSM-IV Training Guide For Diagnosis Of Childhood Disorders $27.00 Revised to reflect changes made in DSM-IV as they pertain to childhood psychiatric disorders, this updated DSM-IV Training Guide for Diagnosis of Childhood Disorders provides specific instructions for optimally using the DSM-IV. This meticulously researched companion guide will provide welcome clarification and definition of the terms and concepts included in the DSM-IV criteria for disorders pert…

Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (ADIS-IV) Child/Parent Version Combination Specimen Set: Includes Clinician’s Manual, Child Interview Schedule, … Interview Schedule (Treatments That Work) $25.16 Companion Child and Parent Interviews are designed to help you diagnose children with emotional disorder, where anxiety is a prominent component. Problem behaviors and diagnoses include school refusal behavior, separation anxiety, social phobia, specific phobia, panic disorder, agoraphobia, OCD, and PTSD. Assessment of ADHD allow for differentiation of inattentive type, hyperactive-impulsive type,…