Articles. News. Information.

Category of Information, News & Articles


Diagnosing ADHD in Children, 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. 

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.

You can learn more about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, its diagnosis and treatment, at the ADHD Information Library.

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 http://www.newideas.net, 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.


MORE RESOURCES:

Families Today: Toddler’s sleep problems trouble parents
Houston Chronicle, United States - Jan 6, 2009
Because parenting is a tough job. Show off their silly faces, cute moments or just time around the house. Q: Up until a week ago, our 25-month-old daughter ...


Parenting posed problems for J.Lo, Anthony
MSNBC - 3 hours ago
By Ree Hines Even while soaking up the sun in Puerto Rico, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony just couldn’t escape the ongoing rumors of relationship woes. ...


Parents regret not reporting boy missing ... after nine years
Pitch Weekly, MO - Jan 6, 2009
Lovely story out of Sedgwick County, Kansas, where a pre-teen boy named Adam Herrman goes missing in 1999 and his adoptive parents patiently wait until just ...


Stuff for parents and kids
Old Colony Memorial and Plymouth Bulletin, MA - 4 hours ago
The Plymouth Family Network (PFN) provides playgroups, story times, music classes, parent workshops and support to families with children under the age of ...


All parents can use support
Carolina Peacemaker, NC - 12 hours ago
by Marian Wright Edelman Parenting offers the most wonderful and daunting challenges in the world. Parents are their children’s most important teachers and ...
YOUR VIEW: JOHN M. LEVENTHAL Hartford Courant
all 3 news articles


Parents' resolutions for the new year
Centre Daily Times, PA - 16 hours ago
Being a parent is not an easy job. It is helpful for parents to have support from their community and to know that they are not alone in raising their ...


Program aims to nurture better parents
Broomfield Enterprise, CO - 5 minutes ago
By Michael Davidson (Contact) That's why Broomfield Health and Human Services will once again offer special parenting workshops to residents who wish they ...


KIDS STUFF | For parents-to-be
Newsday, NY - 22 hours ago
Sample questions include: "Who among the parents' friends will be the baby's worst influence?" and "What's your best piece of parenting advice? ...


Community offers Spanish-language parenting class
Anderson Herald Bulletin, IN - 4 hours ago
His mother, Florencia Murrillo, and his father, Oscar Pacheco, do not speak English and were just two of seven Hispanic parents learning about baby issues ...


Examiner.com

Would you trust a man for parenting advice?
Examiner.com - 14 hours ago
by Terreece Clarke, Parenting Examiner The year 2009 is bringing big changes and I'm not talking about our new president. It seems men are shattering the ...

Parenting - Google News

Home | Sitemap
© 2006 eInfoJunction.com Homepage | Web Directory | Article Directory| Bid Directory