How do I know if my daughter has attention deficit disorder?

Answer 1

Very hyperactive, poor grades, lack of attention span...are some symptoms. I know a child who was almost diagnosed with ADD but it turned out he was suffering from epilepsy and having brief seizures where he'd just space out. So be careful in the diagnosis, involve a professional and teacher's help.

Answer 2

My son is ADHD; he is 20 years old now.I was diagnosed at 42 with it. The best and only way is to get a diagnosis from a qualified doctor. You and others can guess all you want but a good doc is indispensable.
Depending on child's age, your pediatrician or regular doc can get you started. Talking to school officials is a good first step. There are many community based places that you can call. Catholic charities; Mental health; Welfare dept.;The hospital in your area may give you a list of doctors in your area.All of these places SHOULD be able to steer you to a good Doc.They are sources.
Don't give up and don't be backward in asking questions. You are not alone. There are some excellent parents focus groups out there. Not all children with ADD/ADHD need meds to control. This is a neurological disorder but; Sometimes it is something as simple as diet.You won't know until your child sees a doctor and gets tested.Do not mess with this. If you think your child has a problem do not let any one talk you out of getting her checked. I have lived my entire life wondering what was the matter with me. I cried for days after I was diagnosed. At least now I have something to deal with. There is a lot of help out there but most of it is self sot.Good luck.

Answer 3

The only recognized diagnosis for ADD is through a psychologist. I recommend this over just going to see your general doctor, because most pediatricians have no experience with psychological disorders. The link below gives you very important information on common traits that are present, also some recommendations on how to observe your child before taking her to the doctor. I teach elementary school and while I see an increase on child that I feel are ADD or ADHD, I also think that sometimes its just the age, or that they haven't had to maintain self control (ie paying attention, not getting out of seat whenever they want) a lot in their life. There is a difference when a child chooses to not pay attention, and when they just physically can't... good luck!

Answer 4

No one, not even a physician can actually 'know' if your child has ADD. They can look at the behaviors of a child, and determine if your child might function better on an ADD medication. ADD and ADHD are subjective terms. Some children are kinetic yet stay on task. Other children simply can't stay on task and are helped by Ritalin, Adderall, Strattera or other medications.
The best way to decide if your daughter has ADD is to take her to a physician and 'try' a medication for a couple of months to see if there are any positive changes in her behavior. You may have to try several medications at various doses to get control of the symptoms. Adderall XR (extended release) appears to be one of the most efficacious products out there.
Your child may also have depression, bipolar disorder or other psychiatric issues. It is best to go see a Child Psychiatrist who specializes in ADD since it is a difficult diagnosis and challenging to medicate for the inexperienced or generalist.
Good luck.

Answer 5

Physicians are too anxious to diagnose and put her on a meds plan, my twin brother and sister were diagnosed the ADD at a young age. The meds made them buzz out and stay awake for days, turns out my sister had nothing and my brother has sleep apnea (a sleep disorder that causes people to snore, thus rousing them slightly hundreds of times a night), which is often misdiagnosed by anxious physicians as ADD.
Depending on her age, if she is under the age of 6, attention problems are normal, over the age of six, still pretty normal, but if she cannot concentrate on television, a book or eating (not concentrating meaning focusing for about 5 minutes and then moving on completely) try and evaluate her diet and sleeping patterns. Too much sugar, not enough exercise, too much TV, not enough sleep, ect...
IF ALL ELSE FAILS....and I would wait awhile for this, see a physician and inform them of your "research" and evaluations of your daughter.

Answer 6

ADD stands for attention deficit disorder and is a learning disability that primarily affects a person’s level of concentration. It also has a diverse affect on concentration span and can cause sufferers to lose focus on the task at hand. ADD sufferers have a tendency to forget routine tasks like household chores and are seen to daydream a lot and appear inattentive. They will also lose possessions regularly and despite possessing the desire to complete routine tasks, will face difficulties doing so.

Many sufferers are wrongly seen to be stupid or slow, and these feelings can lead to a deep depression or resentment.
But always contact her docter to make sure it's not anything else first.

Answer 7

I agree with the answer early that mentioned the age...how old is your daughter? In very young children, they are not able to accurately diagnose ADD or ADHD so they will put them through testing then say "ah, yea sure, here's your ritalin". I won't even get my child tested, I just tell myself, I would rather have an over active child than a lazy one that sits on the couch watching tv all the time. By the time they are in school, the teachers should be able to tell you if they truely think your child has ADHD or if they are just active children. People want to label an active child ADHD then put them on ritalin and wonder why we have a nation full of lazy children.

Answer 8

There are a few telltale signs that you may be able to observe.
1. Does she stay on a task or is she easily distracted. If she distracts easily, that may be signs of ADD
2. Does she tend to get bored? Does she do better with dynamic and creative environments? If you answered yes to these also, these may be additional signs of ADD.

Your school counselor can set up testing for ADD for no charge. If the testing indicates favorable for ADD, a psychaitrist is a better choice than a regular physician. They are a medical doctor and counselor rolled up into one. They also tend to monitor medication more accurately and regularly than a physician might. Not that a physician is an unwise choice, but a psychaitrist is a specialist. I hope this helps.

Answer 9

Here is a basic checklist of things to look for. I would definitely talk to your daughter's teacher (if she's in school). As a teacher, I see a lot more than parents do b/c of the school setting and the multiple distractions. If you feel strongly about it, talk to your daughter's doctor, adhd and add are medical diagnoses. Good luck!

_Often fidgeting with hands or feet, or squirming while seated.

_ Having difficulty remaining seated.

_ Being easily distracted by extraneous stimuli.

_ Having difficulty awaiting turn in games or group activities.

_ Often blurting out answers before questions are completed.

_ Having difficulty in following instructions.

_ Having difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities.

_Often shifting from one uncompleted task to another.

_ Having difficulty playing quietly.

_Often talking excessively.

_ Often interrupting or intruding on others.

_ Often not listening to what is being said.

_Often forgetting things necessary for tasks or activities.

_Often engaging in physically dangerous activities without considering possible consequences

Answer 10

i have been diagnoised with ADD i cant sit still more than a minuet i cant pay attention for more than a minuet if it dont interest me i cant help but to let my mind wonder the only thing that holds my attention is music and sometimes video games or movies. trust me u will know if she has it. but it also depends on her age they say they cant diagnose it unless there over the age of like 5 or somethin.but becareful they told my cousin she had it and put her on medicine she went to another doctor and they said she didnt have it.