Your Daycare Experience

I recently received an email from a concerned parent asking for assistance. The daycare provider told the parent the the child has ADHD. The parent is concered as how to tell the difference between ADHD and active children.

I am not a doctor and thus not officially quialified to do the diagnosis, as a parent I started to do research on this topic.

As parents, share your experiences with ADHD and provide some advice.

My first visit was to WebMD who recommends:

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Diagnosing ADHD

There is no single test used to diagnose ADHD. ADHD is diagnosed after a person has shown some or all of symptoms of ADHD on a regular basis for more than 6 months.

Diagnosing ADHD in Children

Health care providers, such as pediatricians or child psychologists can diagnose ADHD with the help of standard guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The diagnosis involves gathering information from several sources, including school, caregivers and parents. The health care provider will consider how a child's behavior compares with that of other children the same age.

Some symptoms suggestive of ADHD in children include inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity in a variety of ways. Many children with ADHD:

• Are in constant motion.
• Squirm and fidget.
• Do not seem to listen.
• Are easily distracted.
• Do not finish tasks.

Learn more about the symptoms of ADHD in children.

To diagnose ADHD, your child should receive a full physical examination. That includes a discussion of medical history to screen for other conditions that may affect a child's behavior. Among the possible causes of ADHD-like behavior are:

• A sudden life change (such as divorce, a death in the family, or moving).
• Undetected seizures.
• Thyroid problems.
• Lead toxicity.
• Sleep problems.
• Anxiety.
• Depression.

http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/diagnosing-adhd