How Young Is Too Young For ADHD Diagnosis?

Some parents notice signs of inattention,mind when you think of ADHD.
hyperactivity, and impulsivity in their kids even beforeOnce it has been suggested that a child may have
they start school. The child may not be able to sit stillADHD, the next step is to rule out that the
for very long, or pay attention to games orsymptoms are not caused by a physical disorder,
television. However, not all children displaying thesesuch as thyroid problems, which can mimic ADHD
signs suffer from the disorder. Children develop andsymptoms. A pediatrician or a general practitioner can
grow at different rates; therefore, it is crucial to getphysically evaluate your child to rule this out.
a professional opinion.Subsequently, it will be necessary to find a specialist
ADHD may not be noticed by parents or others, andwho is qualified to test the child for ADHD. Doctors
may go unobserved until the child runs into problemsthat test for ADHD include child psychologists,
at school. Since school is very structured andpsychiatrists, neurologists and other types of licensed
task-oriented environment, ADHD will be moremental health professionals.
apparent there than anywhere else. It is often aAfter you find a specialist, you will need to bring the
teacher who first notices ADHD in a child. Teacherschild being evaluated as well as a family member who
come into daily contact with all types of children, and,has known them since they were young. A thorough
with experience, become aware of children who havehistory will need to be taken to accurately document
learning difficulties in comparison to the average child.when the problems associated with ADHD began.
They may then mention their suspicion to theThis will be followed by several diagnostic tests.
parents and suggest getting the child evaluated forADHD is not diagnosed at any specific age; however,
ADHD.once a child enters school that the symptoms are
One thing that teachers do not notice, though, isvery likely to be more apparent, due to the
passive children, who "blend into the woodwork".structured environment. Still, there are many
These children, who suffer from inattentive ADD, areindividuals who remain undiagnosed until adulthood;
often quiet and spacey - qualities that do not standand indeed, the rate of adults diagnosed with ADHD
out in the classroom. They are also not paired withis skyrocketing.
the image of the hyperactive child that comes to