How to Diagnose If Your Child is Suffering from ADD
How to Diagnose If Your Child is Suffering from ADD
Normally the easy way to diagnose ADD is through psychiatric assessment, however to make sure that there is no other cause or any medical problem that the child is suffering, physical examination, laboratory tests, and radiological imaging have to be done. Since many of the behavior that characterize ADD can be found with normal behavior from time to time, then there is some criteria that should be based on before classifying any individual behavior as ADD symptoms. The diagnosis has to be done by an experienced professional using guidelines set by the appropriate bodies.
The criteria that are followed for anyone to be classified as a person with ADD are as follows. The problem has to be identified using DSM-IV-TR. The information about a child has to be obtained in different settings. Other conditions like coexisting problem have to be identified before the treatment began. Those criteria have to be sustained with the information given by teachers, parents or the patient himself. If an adult are suspected to suffer ADD, his behavior before the age of 7 have to be reassessed to be able to diagnose ADD without a doubt. In the adults, ADD can manifest in losing self-control and being less motivated. Sometime an adult may have signs of loosing attention or being hyperactive just like children.
Medical experts suggest that before any label ADD is put on a child behavior the following criteria should be fulfilled. The abnormality of the child behavior should appear before the child reaches the age of 7. The child must be assessed at a minimum period of six months. The child should have problems in the area such as classroom work, in playground, in his home, in community life and in any social gathering.
A child cannot be said to have ADD, if he is only hyperactive in the playground, if he is only hyperactive in class, if his schoolwork is not affected in any way, if his social life or friendship is not suffering because of his behavior. Before making the diagnosis of ADD, any other possible psychological or medical conditions have to be excluded first. Medical conditions that have to be excluded are like anemia, hearing or vision problems, lead poisoning, cluttering, drug side effects, chronic illness or substance abuse among others. It has also been found out that the child with ADD may suffer some sleep disorders, or sleep disorder can contribute to the child ADD condition.
Treatment of the ADD is the combination of lifestyle changes, behavior modification, medication, and counseling. The most effective treatment for ADD is the combination of both behavior management and medication. The second best treatment is medication alone, and the third is behavioral treatment alone. Medication and behavior management have to be combined to make sure that the result if for long term. Parents and other care take such as teachers have to be trained on how to take care of the child that has been identified with ADD. So you must be aware of everything so that you can keep yourself safe. Pay As You Go Phones- Most Trusted Companion Of Teenagers Why I left my kids?(5) Obesity Problems Among Teenagers - Cause & Consequences! Breakup Advice When Children Are Involved How To Make Your Children Like You Travelling with Small Children - a Driver's Checklist What Causes Anemia in Children and Its Treatment Tiger Woods's Childhood Story PhunZone – Why Age-Appropriate Toys are Important The Presence of Parents is a Present to Children How to Get Help for Overweight Kids through Child Psychology Crib to Big Kid Bed - Easing the Transition Questions about Kids' Birthday Parties and Answers