The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends behavioral therapy as a first-line treatment for children younger than 6. The most common treatments for this condition include medication, behavioral therapies, or both. Given the amount of information available about ADHD and its stigma, it’s not uncommon for parents to have concerns after their child receives an ADHD diagnosis.īut the good news is that ADHD is treatable, and with the right treatment plan, you can learn to manage those behaviors and improve symptoms. Depending on the diagnosis, you may also be referred to a child psychiatrist or neurologist for additional testing. If parents can, consider an independent evaluation by a psychologist who specializes in these conditions. Before your appointment, it may helpful to make a list of your child’s behaviors and gather any observations or notes from teachers and counselors to provide to your doctor. If your doctor suspects ADHD, they may refer you to an ADHD specialist. Among children ages 2-17 diagnosed with ADHD, nearly two-thirds (64%) also had another co-existing condition, such as anxiety or depression.

But severe ADHD can be diagnosed as early as 5 years old.ĭuring the evaluation, the doctor will also work to determine if another condition may be causing the symptoms or if another condition is occurring simultaneously. The average age of diagnosis is 7 years old. Your doctor will likely gather information about their behavior in different settings – at school, home, or with friends – from teachers, family members, and any other adults involved in their care.Ī rating scale and other sources, such as a checklist, may be used to document symptoms and make sure that specific guidelines for diagnosing ADHD have been met. But doctors will look at your child’s behavior to help them make a diagnosis. There’s no medical or blood test for ADHD. If you notice symptoms of ADHD in your child or teen, you can talk with your pediatrician about an evaluation for the condition. Parents are usually the first to notice signs of ADHD in their child. You can find out more here about symptoms of childhood and teen ADHD.

interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games).

loses things needed to complete a task/activity (e.g., school materials).

trouble focusing or concentrating on tasks.

They may have some or all of these symptoms. The symptoms of ADHD your child or teen has will depend on the type of ADHD they have. The awareness of ADHD in girls is often missed as their symptoms generally are not as severe as they are in boys. The impacts of ADHD on girls are different than boys, especially in peer relationships. That’s why it can be challenging to tell whether your child has ADHD or if they’re acting like a “kid.” For some, these behaviors happen only in some situations and only occur every so often.īut for those with ADHD, these behaviors may be more severe and happen more frequently, often leading to problems at home, school, and with friends. It’s normal for children to daydream in class, forget their homework, lose their toys, act without thinking, or have a hard time sitting still for long periods. The type can change over time, so treatment will likely change, too.

The type of ADHD your child or teen has will determine how they’ll be treated. Children or teens with this combined type have both hyperactive and inattentive symptoms. Combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive They may fidget, feel restless, interrupt others, talk a lot, and have a hard time sitting still (e.g., for a meal or doing school work).ĭue to a higher chance of impulsive behaviors, children or teens with this type may be more likely to have accidents and injuries. Predominately hyperactive-impulsive typeĬhildren or teens with this type of ADHD have symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity. This type of ADHD is characterized primarily by inattention and distractibility.Ĭhildren or teens with this type may be easily distracted and have difficulty staying organized, following directions, or completing a task. The American Academy of Pediatrics (APP) has grouped ADHD into three types – predominately inattentive, predominately hyperactivity-impulsive, and a combination of both.

Childhood add test