ADD/ADHD Diagnosis

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• QWhat is the diagnosis process for ADHD?

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  A Dr. Dania J. Lindenberg, MD , Pediatrics, answered on behalf of Scripps Health

  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be difficult to diagnose, so it's important to pay attention to behaviors in your child, such as difficulty with focusing. Some of the symptoms of ADHD include distractibility, forgetfulness and disorganization. A child with ADHD is also likely to be impatient and loud. For an ADHD diagnosis, your child must show symptoms in at least two different settings, such as at home and school.

  Part of the reason that it's difficult to diagnose ADHD is because the symptoms may overlap with other conditions. Since there's no one way of testing for it, a diagnosis is often made based on observations from teachers and parents. Typically the child with ADHD will have trouble in school, both in terms of behavior and school performance. If your child's teacher has expressed concerns, or if you have your own concerns, discuss them with your child's pediatrician.

  Your child’s pediatrician may ask that you and your child's teacher complete a questionnaire specifically designed to detect ADHD symptoms. Based on the questionnaire, your child's pediatrician may recommend an evaluation by a pediatric therapist or psychiatrist. Getting a proper diagnosis is one of the first steps you can take to help your child succeed if he has ADHD.

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• QHow can I help my child do well in school?

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  A Dr. Heath A. Cobb, MD , Pediatrics, answered on behalf of Intermountain Healthcare

  Follow these steps to help your child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do his homework:

  Step 1: Determine a reasonable amount of time for your child to spend on homework each night (no more than 30 minutes). Schedule a daily time to perform the homework when a parent or adult is available to monitor the homework session. Avoid scheduling the session too late at night.
  Step 2: Select a permanent place to do the homework. Select a quiet spot that is away from family traffic but not so remote to prevent monitoring of the homework.
  Step 3: Break the homework into manageable amounts of time. For example, if your homework session is for 20 minutes, have your child do two 10-minute sessions with a short break in between sessions.
  Step 4: Break the homework into manageable amounts of work. Divide assignments into smaller units. For example, if your child has to write 20 spelling words in a sentence, assign 5 to 10 words for each of the two 10-minute sessions.
  Step 5: Make sure that your child is prepared to begin the homework. Provide the necessary materials, and discuss the assignment to ensure that your child understands the directions. Answer your child's questions, and do a few sample problems before beginning the session.
  Step 6: Place a digital timer to indicate when each homework session begins and ends. For example, if your child is performing two 10-minute sessions, set the timer for 10 minutes. Make sure that your child knows how much work has to be completed within the time period.
  Step 7: Begin the timer and leave the room. Return to the room on occasion (every 5 minutes or so) to monitor your child's progress, answer questions, and offer encouragement and praise. Make your stay brief!
  Step 8: When time has expired, check your child's work for completion and accuracy. Have your child immediately correct any mistakes.
  Step 9: Provide a token incentive if your child successfully completed the work expectations within the time limits. For example, your child may earn one point on a reward chart.
  Step 10: If your child failed to complete the work within the time limit, consider the following options:

  • Do not provide the token incentive.
  • Remove a previously earned token.
  • Repeat the homework session using the same work expectations and time limits. (However, do not provide a token incentive on this repeat trial.)

  Step 11: Repeat the procedure until all of the homework sessions are completed.

• QAre boys diagnosed with ADHD more than girls?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Boys are more likely than girls to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). More than 10 percent of school-age boys have been diagnosed. Fewer than 6 percent of school-age girls have been diagnosed.

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• QWhat is the first step if I think my child has ADHD?

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  A Greenville Health System answered

  If you think that your child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), talk to your pediatrician. Pediatricians can guide you in ADHD diagnosis and treatment options. If you are unsure about whether you should seek help or not, consider the following: Young people with ADHD often struggle in school, especially if they do not get treated early on. They also struggle socially. Children with ADHD may be more likely to have mental health problems than other children. They may also abuse drugs and alcohol at higher rates.
  
  These are situations that you want your child to avoid. If you feel that your child needs help, get advice as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment may help your child avoid some serious problems later in life.
  The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Nor does the contents of this website constitute the establishment of a physician patient or therapeutic relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
• QWhy are more adults being diagnosed with ADD?

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  A Dr. Lara Honos-Webb, PhD , Psychology, answered

  There's been an explosion of diagnosis of attention deficit disorder (ADD) in adults. Current estimates show that approximately four million adults have been diagnosed with ADD.
  
  One reason for the increase is that, as rates of diagnosis in children increase, many parents recognize similar symptoms in themselves and seek diagnosis and treatment. Anecdotally, many adults who have found their way to diagnosis through their kids have told me that they were able to get through school in their day because teachers were willing to let them proceed without too much fuss. There is a concern that the pressure to raise scores on standardized tests has made today's school system overly rigid, and in doing so, made school much more difficult for kids with ADD.
  
  Many parents think that in previous eras the demands of school weren't as crippling as they are now. This may explain, in part, these late diagnoses of ADD. Anecdotally, some prescribing doctors have observed that treating a parent can dramatically impact a child's ADD symptoms. This may make doctors more likely to urge parents of ADD children to seek diagnosis themselves.

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• QWhat are the different types of ADD?

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  A Amen Clinics, Inc. answered

  Attention deficit disorder (ADD), like many other conditions, is not just a single and simple disorder; therefore, treatment is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Seven types of ADD have now been identified from brain scans using  single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). These brain scans make it possible to observe abnormal blood flow patterns and  better understand brain function. Based on nearly 100,000 brain scans, the seven types of ADD are: 

  • Type 1: Classic ADD
  • Type 2: Inattentive ADD
  • Type 3: Overfocused ADD
  • Type 4: Temporal lobe ADD
  • Type 5: Limbic ADD
  • Type 6: Ring of fire ADD
  • Type 7: Anxious ADD
• QWhy is ADHD often misdiagnosed?

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  A Dr. Sudeepta Varma, MD , Psychiatry, answered

  

  Many symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are not what you might expect. In this video, psychiatrist Sudeepta Varma, MD, discusses symptoms of ADHD that are common but often unrecognized.

  

  Find out more about this DVD:

  Why Is ADHD Often Misdiagnosed?
  Buy DVD
• QWhat is the prognosis for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

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  A Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered

  The condition cannot be cured, but, with proper treatment, most children have good outcomes during childhood and as adults.

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• QIs there a test that can diagnose ADHD unequivocally?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Unfortunately, diagnosing ADHD is not as simple as diagnosing something like a heart attack or chicken pox. There is no single test that can be used to diagnose ADHD.

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