How to Diagnose ADHD

Has your attention ever been called for your childsymptoms of inattentiveness and hyperactivity
misbehaving in class? What if this happens moremust not only be present while the child is in
than just once in a while and the teacher hasschool but also when he is at home. There must
been labelling your child as a problem child? Doesalso be signs that the child is having problems
your child love to climb up on furniture and runcoping up as compared to other children.
about the house like a little tornado causing chaosSeveral criteria are used to diagnose ADHD such
and mayhem wherever he goes? Do you everthe DSM-IV criteria. The DSM-IV is often used in
feel like your child does not listen at all to youthe United States to diagnose psychological
even when you are talking to him directly? Doesproblems. A child should have the symptoms for
your child ever seem to have trouble beingat least six months before it can be confirmed to
patient and waiting for his turn? Does he havebe ADHD. There are two sets in the DSM-IV
trouble keeping his strong emotions under control?criterion and this will help in diagnosing the type of
Maybe it is time to take your child to a specialistADHD a child has. The three categories or types
because the doctor or therapist might justof ADHD are:
diagnose ADHD.- Combined Type
To diagnose ADHD, a therapist may recruit the- Predominantly Inattentive Type
help of the child's parents, relatives, teachers and- Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type
other guardians to observe the child for theThe International Statistical Classification of
symptoms of ADHD. Interviews may be done toDiseases and Related Health Problems tenth
further assess the child. A detailed and completeedition is also a tool that is used to diagnose
checklist regarding the child's behaviours may alsoADHD in other countries. ADHD is known to be a
be required for the parents to fill up. Careful andset of symptoms known as Hyperkinetic Disorder.
meticulous observation is needed in order toKinetics refers to movement. Literally,
eliminate other disorders that may causehyperkinetic means increased movement. There
inattention and the other symptoms of ADHD.are other guidelines paediatricians and therapists
These conditions include learning disabilities such asuse in diagnosing ADHD.
dyslexia, visual and auditory disorders, andNow that you have all this information, you can
pathologic disorders such as hyperthyroidism andspot if your child is likely to have ADHD or if he
anaemia. The diagnosis is often done when themay have other problems that hinder him from
child is between 6 to 12 years old and is havingdeveloping maturely.
trouble coping up with schoolwork. These