Diagnosing ADD
Not as Easy as You Think

Diagnosing ADD and ADHD accurately is essential if we are to help our children deal with the disorder. However, sometimes that is easier said than done. Let's look at what is involved in an ADHD or ADD diagnosis.

If you are wondering, "does my child have ADD?" this article will help you understand how to answer that question. In understanding how is ADD diagnosed, you will have a better sense of direction as to the most effective treatment for your child. Normal childhood hyperactivity is often confused with ADHD. Read our understanding hyperactivity page for a clearer view of hyperactive behavior.

Correctly establishing the diagnosis of attention deficit disorder, is often difficult because the symptoms can be easily confused with other disorders. Hyperthyroidism, for example which is a common occurrence that mimics this disorder.

Therefore, the first thing to do when trying to diagnose ADD is to find the right ADD ADHD specialist.

It should be noted that this area of ADD is an uncertain science. This is due to the fact that there is no direct medical test for an ADD diagnosis. Most of the symptoms used to define ADD are often caused by other medical issues.

Many organizations have tried to compile guidelines for those in need. However, it is extremely difficult to tell if a symptom is or is not pointing to ADD or ADHD because the methods are not 100% reliable.

Diagnosing ADD relies solely on the symptoms described by those dealing with disorder, their experiences and their representation of the disorder. Many have discovered by themselves that they had attention deficit disorder, as the disorder doesn't resolve itself with time, making itself more and more evident in the life of a patient.

A guideline compiled by American Academy whose members are pediatricians points out the need of medical specialized staff, trained in observing a child's behavior and being able to tell, after a certain amount of time whether the child has or does not have ADD.

ADD Diagnosis-How it is Performed

In order for a doctor to be correctly diagnosing ADHD or ADD, he will need to ask for the help of witnesses, such as individuals at home or in the school where the child is going, that can monitor his or her behavior and note any inconsistency.

They will be asked to complete a thorough questionnaire regarding the child's symptoms and behaviors. This will help provide a holistic evaluation of the child's behavior, because he will be evaluated from multiple points of view.

Therefore, the physician will be able to form an educated opinion on whether the child is dealing with ADD or not.

Dangers Of ADHD Diagnosis

Before choosing a doctor to evaluate attention deficit disorder in your child, remember to ensure his or her approach resembles the one outlined by the Academy. Since ADD is extremely difficult to diagnose correctly this will help assure you of obtaining the right diagnosis in the first place.

While we may opt to avoid the problem and ignore the diagnosis, your child will start to be affected by the disorder in a negative way, creating more and more problems over time.

To conclude with, diagnosing ADD will require you to find a doctor who can make an accurate diagnosis in the first place. This is critical because parents need to know in a timely manner what they can do to help their child and make his or her life more functional.

The ADHD specialist you choose will then provide direction as to the best plan of action. If you are wondering, does my child have ADD, before going through the time and expense of an ADD or ADHD diagnosis, you may want to learn about the benefit that can be obtained by a natural adhd treatment.

The negative behavior that is so characteristic of ADHD children can often be helped with the use of natural herbal products designed to reduce anxiety and improve the ability to focus.

Many children and adults with ADHD have had their hyperactivity reduced or eliminated while improving their ability to focus with the use of a natural product called Native Remedies, a vitamin/mineral treatment created specifically to address the symptoms of ADD and ADHD.

Here are some more resources you may be interested in.
WebMD describes diagnosing ADHD
Psychcentral.com on Diagnosing ADHD