Home
>
Parenting
>
Diagnosing ADHD in Your Child, an Introduction

Diagnosing ADHD in Your Child, an Introduction

Everyone in a private practice setting who works with children or adults is going to have their own opinion on how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - ADD or ADHD - should be diagnosed. Some clinics take the perspective that "more is good," and will recommend a large battery of tests, often costing many thousands of dollars. Other clinics, typically with hurried physicians, will simply give a brief rating scales to the parents and then make a quick diagnosis and prescribe treatment, usually a medication.

Unfortunately neither of these extremes is in the patient's best interest.

If you are the parent of a child or teenager who is struggling in school, and perhaps at life in general, you should be familiar with what makes this disorder we call Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

First, the symptom of inattention. The person has trouble with focusing on the right thing, long enough to get it done. A lot of people, including his parents, complain that he just doesn't seem to listen when spoken to. Because of not sustaining attention, or because of acting like a "space cadet," he doesn't finish his chores or homework. He can't keep his mind on what he's doing for very long unless it is very exciting, or very entertaining, and he doesn't pay close attention to what he's doing, so he makes a lot of careless mistakes. Video games are an exception because they give immediate feedback, they are exciting, and they are fun. Chores and homework are not.The inattention is seen most with homework, chores, and other boring things that you want him to do.

He's really disorganized. Most commonly this is seen in spending three hours to finally finish his homework, then losing it at school (it's in his backpack), or forgetting to turn it in. He really tries to avoid doing homework or chores. He gets distracted easily, or pays attention to the wrong thing at the wrong time. He is often forgetful and has to be reminded to do things often.

The great majority of people diagnosed with ADHD have problems with inattention.

The next classic symptom is poor impulse control, or a lack of self-control. Not all people with ADHD have this problem, but many do. He often blurts out answers in class.
He can't wait his turn when he is playing games or at school, and pushes ahead in lines. He interrupts others a lot, he just doesn't wait well. He tends to do things without thinking about them first, and says things he doesn't think about first. He does not consider the consequences of his actions.

About half of those diagnosed with ADHD are hyperactive. Since the word "hyperactive" is in the name itself you might think that everyone with the disorder must be hyperactive, but such is not the case. There are probably five or six types of ADHD, each one different from the other in terms of brain function. You can learn more about the different types of adhd at the ADHD Information Library.

How do you know if your child or teen is hyperactive?

He has happy hands and feet which fidget and squirm a lot. He just can't stay in his seat for very long when he's supposed to at school or the dinner table. He may run around too much, or climb on things he's not supposed to. He is often just too loud. He is "On the go" as if he is "driven by a motor." He talks too much. He leaves footprints across the ceiling.

It is important to note that at least some of these symptoms must have been seen before the age of seven. Also, that at least some of the symptoms are seen both at home and at school. Also, that these behaviors are really a problem. Not just a little bit, but a lot.

Please be aware that there are several reasons why a child could have these symptoms besides Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. For example, thyroid problems, depression, anxiety disorders, hearing problems, and so on. Please do not attempt to "diagnose" your child. See your doctor, or go to a qualified mental health professional. This web site is no substitute for talking with an expert.

Keep in mind that over-diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a big problem. There are some children who are diagnosed as having ADHD that do not have it. It is not uncommon for someone with depression, or anxiety, specific learning disabilities, early onset bi-polar disorder, or Tourette's Syndrome, to be diagnosed as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This is often the result of a diagnostic "work-up" which is too brief and does not take into account the many reasons why a child might be inattentive, impulsive, or over-active.

But over-diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is not the only problem.

Under-diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is also a problem. This happens most often in the school setting where the school psychologist writes his report perfectly describing an individual with ADHD, then refuses to use the label "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" in his report anywhere.

It also often happens in therapist's offices where the therapist is not familiar with the neurological aspects of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and only sees the characteristic behaviors as "acting out behaviors" due to family problems, rebelliousness, and so on. Therapists operating entirely from a "Family Systems" orientation are especially at risk for making this mistake, as I admit I did for my first two years in practice.

Some studies suggest that only one out of three people who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder will ever get help. Two out of three people who have ADHD will never receive a diagnosis or treatment. They will never really know what it is that's bothered them through their life. So we have two problems. One is the over-diagnosis and the other is the under-diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder.

Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library's family of seven web sites, including different types of adhd , helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.

cleaning team near Winnetka ..

In The News:

Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.

Researchers discover phishing scam using invisible characters to evade email security, with protection tips including password managers and two-factor authentication.

iPhone and Android users can reduce battery drain and data usage by restricting Background App Refresh to Wi-Fi connections instead of mobile networks.

Scammers nearly stole an Apple account by exploiting the support system with authentic-looking tickets and phone calls, users can protect themselves with safety steps.

FoloToy restored sales of its AI teddy bear Kumma after a weeklong suspension following safety group findings of risky and inappropriate responses to children.

Threat intelligence firm Synthient uncovers one of the largest password exposures ever, prompting immediate security recommendations.

Viral video shared by Elon Musk shows Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots performing tasks from cooking to construction, garnering over 58.5 million views on social media.

Chinese hackers used Anthropic's Claude AI to launch autonomous cyberattacks on 30 organizations worldwide, marking a major shift in cybersecurity threats.

Apple's new Sleep Score feature gives you a rating for your nightly rest quality. Learn how to set it up on your Apple Watch and iPhone today.

Essential phone settings to enable before losing your device, including Find My network, location services and security features for iPhone and Android.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Cybersecurity research shows weak passwords remain a major threat, with simple patterns and number sequences putting millions of accounts at risk.

New Android malware BankBot YNRK silences phones, steals banking data and drains crypto wallets automatically. Learn how this advanced threat works.

FDA approves first human trial for Paradromics' brain-computer interface that could restore speech for paralyzed patients through neural technology.

New phishing platform QRR targets Microsoft 365 users across 1,000 domains in 90 countries. Learn how to spot fake login pages and protect your accounts.

OpenTable now uses AI to track your dining habits and share insights with restaurants. Learn what data they collect and how to protect your privacy.

Google's discontinued Nest thermostats still secretly upload home data to company servers despite losing smart features, raising serious privacy concerns.

New Android malware NGate steals NFC payment codes in real-time, allowing criminals to withdraw cash from ATMs without your card. Learn protection tips.

DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.

Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.

Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.

Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.

A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.

South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Diagnosing ADHD in Your Child, an Introduction

Parenting