When you take your child to the pediatrician for a sore throat, a quick test can tell if it’s strep throat and put your child on the way to a course of antibiotics and generally a quick recovery. But when it comes to diagnosing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – a condition in which children display symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsiveness, or inattention, or a combination of these -- the diagnostic process is rarely quick or easy. In fact, in many cases, the pediatrician is not the one to make the diagnosis.

Most will refer you and your child to a mental health professional such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor, or social worker trained in diagnosing and treating the disorder through behavioral management, according to webmd.com.

Criteria for ADHD Diagnosis

The person who evaluates your child for ADHD will be looking for the presence and severity of specific behaviors. The behaviors vary, depending on which of the three types of ADHD a child appears to have: hyperactivity-impulsivity, inattention, or combination. Different types of ADHD include these different symptoms in children:

Hyperactivity
·    Often fidgets with hands or feet, or squirms in seat
·    Often gets up from seat
·    Often has trouble enjoying quiet activities
·    Often runs or climbs where not appropriate
·    Often talks excessively

Impulsivity
·    Often blurts out answer before questions have been finished
·    Often has trouble waiting his or her turn
·    Often interrupts others

Inattention
·    Often makes careless mistakes in schoolwork or other activities
·    Often has trouble focusing on tasks or activities
·    Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
·    Often has trouble organizing activities
·    Often does not follow instructions
·    Often loses things needed for tasks or activities

Although many children display some of the behaviors for ADHD, they do not necessarily have the disorder. An ADHD diagnosis requires that these behaviors have been persistent for at least six months, that some symptoms began before age seven, that symptoms are present in two or more settings (such as school and home), and that they cause significant impairment in social or school functioning.

ADHD in Children: How a Diagnosis Is Made

The first step toward diagnosing ADHD should be a full physical exam. Then the psychologist or other mental health professional who evaluates your child for ADHD will probably set up an interview with you and two or more sessions with your child before making a diagnosis.
The evaluator will rule out other causes of your child’s behavior such as:
·    A sudden life change (such as divorce, a death in the family, or moving)
·    Undetected seizures
·    Thyroid problems
·    Lead toxicity
·    Sleep problems
·    Hearing problems
·    Learning disability
·    Anxiety
·    Depression

BDST 2125, Aug 24, 2010