Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder is a disorder that is almost exactly what it sounds. It is when children (and adults) are inattentive, hyperactive or impulsive causing significant life problems. Some with ADHD only have problems with inattention. Others only struggle with hyperactivity, and some have issues with both.

 ADHD is a disorder usually first diagnosed in childhood. If you are a parent and are concerned that your child may have ADHD, here are a few things to consider and some information on how to seek out appropriate help.

To be diagnosed in childhood, symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity must occur before the age of seven. Also symptoms must occur in another location besides home; usually at school. If you are concerned that your child may have ADHD I recommend that you seek out help immediately. Here are a few ideas for how to access resources for diagnosing the problem and finding treatment.

If your child is in school you may request an evaluation from your school psychologist. I also recommend that you communicate with the teacher to compare notes and talk about concerns. If there is a counselor at school you may consider initiating counseling.

Outside the school there are also resources. Talk with your pediatrician about your concerns. Or have your child seen by a psychiatrist, preferably one that specializes in children. Both a pediatrician and psychiatrist are able to prescribe medication for ADHD, although some pediatricians are more comfortable doing this than others.

You may be asked to complete some assessment tools to help a physician diagnose ADHD. These comprise of written questions to be answered by a parent, and one other adult who has viewed the child in a setting outside the home (such as a teacher). These questions are really helpful for diagnosing ADHD and help bring objectivity to the evaluation because they gather data from two different settings. Also, because behaviors such as inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity can happen for a variety of reasons, the assessment tools help rule out other disorders and issues.

Finally, I encourage you to seek out help in diagnosing this disorder if you have concerns about your child. As a parent you know your child the best and can become a strong advocate for getting help. ADHD makes it very difficult for children to thrive, especially in school. So intervening early will make all the difference.

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