How to Get ADHD Diagnosed Properly for Your Child

For a lot of parents, going through the trials of the terrible twos and thrashing threes is all a part of parenting. For others of us whether it is our first child or our third, something just doesn't seem to sit right.

Whether it is a play date with the neighborhood kids, or a family Barbeque our little angel seems to be left out of the bunch. We begin to notice that their playing habits are different from the group. Then, when all the other kids begin to get sleepy and ready for their naps our darling is still raring to go.

It is hard to say when the symptoms really start. It can be different for every child facing this struggle. One important thing to remember is there is so many factors that play into this world we can never blame ourselves. The truth is if you weren't a good parent you wouldn't notice.

One of the most important things to do first and foremost is talk to your pediatrician. Sometimes having a list in hand with all of your questions and concerns can be best. We all get a little forgetful when we are nervous in a doctor's office.

Your pediatrician will be able to do a few tests right there in the office that will give them a better look at the situation. You may also want to ask to have a thyroid test run if it hasn't already been done. They should also be able to give you a few ideas of things to watch for that can also be major signs. For every child this will be different as ADHD children come in a wide variety.

If your little one is in day care or already in school, it is also very helpful to speak with the day care staff or teachers. They have a wonderful perception of your child's interactions with their peers and authority figures.

If at all possible, it is best to get as much information from the doctor and/or teacher in writing. It is important to start a file on your child and get as much written documentation as possible. This is for your own records and can be handy later on down the road.

After speaking with the doctor and teachers the next step is to start looking for a good child psychologist. You can start in the phone book, and some ADD/ADHD web sites even have forums and support groups that can be very helpful with this. When you call the office make sure you make them aware of your situation and that you are looking to have your child assessed for ADHD and/or ADD.

A good psychologist will speak with you initially and ask you why you think this is the situation, time for your list again. After that they will talk to your child and ask some questions. These questions can seem a bit odd but, they are very useful for the evaluation and assessment process.

This psychologist should be able to help you whether you are looking to try behavior modification first, or want to look into psychiatrists. If you would like to use behavior modification the psychologist will be able to help you find the best ones for your child. From there they should keep up once a week visits to track the child's progress.

If you do decide to go the psychiatrist route (which is usually recommended after trying behavior modification) your psychologist should be able to give you a list that they refer people to.

Unfortunately, you still have to be careful of the psychiatrist that you work with. Some things to watch for are if they actually run any tests or, just toss you a bottle of pills. Everyone that has been diagnosed with ADHD/ADD and is starting to look into medication should have and EEG done to get a closer look at brain wave activity. This can play a huge role in if your child needs stimulant therapy or just antidepressants for focus.

As I said before this is something to be done with a lot of patience and not rushed into. It can be a process that takes a lot of time to get through. In the end however if done correctly you can end up understanding your child a lot better. ADHD/ADD people are some of the brightest people in the world, once you get to know them for who they are.