| Imagine having a blood test which could show that | | | | discovered in a two year old! Normally though, the |
| your child had ADHD. Dream on! As yet no such | | | | usual age is from four or five years up but now |
| test exists. So ADHD diagnosis and how it is | | | | they are thinking of revising the upper age limit |
| performed because an inaccurate diagnosis could | | | | and the new DSM Edition V will probably put the |
| change your child's life for the worst. | | | | age range from seven to twelve. |
| The actual ADHD diagnosis should take into | | | | Correct ADHD diagnosis is so important because |
| consideration medical, physical and psychological | | | | it can impact your child's life and future in a very |
| factors. The specialist who may be a family | | | | decisive way. There have been disastrous cases |
| doctor specializing in ADHD or a child specialist | | | | of misdiagnosis and there is a lot of suspicion that |
| should first rule out any other condition which | | | | ADHD is being overdiagnosed on a grand scale. |
| sometimes have similar symptoms to that of | | | | The only thing to do is to make sure you are not |
| ADHD. | | | | getting a hasty diagnosis so refuse a prescription |
| The symptoms of restlessness, constant motion | | | | for psychostimulants if your paediatrician gives |
| and fidgeting and constant talking may be some | | | | your child that after only a ten minute |
| of the symptoms that you notice as a parent. | | | | consultation. |
| But these do not necessarily mean that this is | | | | As regards treatment, there is growing concern |
| ADHD! The specialist has to take into account | | | | about the amphetamine type drugs which are |
| how they are affecting academic life, home life, | | | | generally felt to be over prescribed. Alarming |
| social relationships with other children and so on. | | | | research reveals that the effects of these wear |
| Then there is the whole question of the onset of | | | | off after three years. If there is no behavior |
| the symptoms and at what age they started. | | | | modification in place, there is a high risk of |
| Have they lasted for more than six months and in | | | | carrying ADHD into adulthood and the challenges |
| how many settings are they present. If a child | | | | that person will face will be considerable. |
| behaves completely differently at school, then this | | | | So, there you have it. There is an urgent need |
| may not be ADHD at all. There might be some | | | | for more accurate and careful ADHD diagnosis |
| psychological problem within the family or a | | | | and there is also the need to pull back from the |
| difficulty in relating to one of the parents. | | | | prescription drugs and all their unknown and hidden |
| There is a great debate now about the age when | | | | dangers. It is certainly time to look at alternatives |
| ADHD starts. There have been cases of babies | | | | which I have outlined for you in my website |
| of two or three being prescribed psychostimulants | | | | below. |
| and an extreme case where bipolar was | | | | |