| An ADHD diagnosis is not formal until formal tests | | | | symptoms to ADHD. A general physician will be |
| have been given by a licensed psychologist or | | | | able to rule out that your child has some sort of |
| other mental health professional. Unfortunately, | | | | physical problem, such as a thyroid problem. |
| these days school teachers are the ones making | | | | After the child has seen a medical doctor, the |
| the diagnosis when they usually have no | | | | next step will be to meet with a psychologist or |
| qualifications to be able to do so. I think it is good | | | | other licensed mental health professional. They will |
| to be cautious in diagnosing disorders and loosely | | | | be able to give your child the necessary tests to |
| labeling children with ADHD when that may not | | | | diagnose ADHD. You will be able to find specialists |
| truly be the case. Often times symptoms of | | | | through CHADD, which is national organization that |
| ADHD look like a lot of other things, and it is | | | | educates and helps people with ADHD. |
| extremely important to a child's well-being to be | | | | When you find a qualified mental health |
| careful in the process of evaluating them. It is | | | | professional, your first initial meetings will involve |
| important and essential, though, that school | | | | your child and a family member that has known |
| teachers are keeping their eyes and ears open | | | | the child since they were young. The mental |
| while teaching. If they notice that a child is having | | | | health professional will get a detailed personal |
| more difficulties than other kids, first tell the | | | | history from your child's point of view as well as |
| parents. Then make sure that something is done | | | | the family member's point of view. |
| about getting the child tested for ADHD and other | | | | After this, tests such as TOVA (Tests of |
| learning disabilities. Some children do not get | | | | Variable Attention) will be given to see if there is |
| tested, and they struggle in school and life when | | | | the presence of ADHD. This test is a 23 minute |
| they don't have to. Education and counseling early | | | | test, and is accurate in distinguishing is a test |
| can really prevent children with ADHD in having as | | | | subject has ADHD or not. I believe it is important |
| many struggles that tend to hold them back in | | | | to get formal testing to know for sure whether |
| various ways. | | | | the child is struggling with ADHD or possibly |
| After is has been decided that a child should be | | | | something else such as a learning disorder. |
| tested for ADHD, it needed to be decided which | | | | Other disorders that could look like ADHD are |
| ADHD test should be taken to evaluate for the | | | | depression and anxiety disorders, Tourette's |
| disorder. There are a few different tests that will | | | | Syndrome, early onset bi-polar disorder, conduct |
| effectively diagnosis the presence of ADHD. The | | | | disorder and possibly other emotional problems or |
| first step that should be taken, though, should be | | | | disorders. It is very important to keep this in mind |
| to rule out a physical disorder that has similar | | | | during the process of evaluation. |