At what age ADHD symptoms should start being considered? Is there a minimum age for that?

Answer 1

Before going down the route of ADD/ADHD diagnosis, if your child or a child you know is exhibiting a lot of similar symptoms to ADD/ADHD there may be other things that are the cause of the behavior.

Sensory Integration Issues, (which can be helped with Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy (OT/PT) as well as food allergies, and inconsistent caregiver expectations (mom expects a time out for "stop behavior," grandma bribes a child to "behave" -- etc.) can all be factors. I personally don't think medication should be used on children -- though I know that it is used a lot. Some children need different outlets, and learn differently than others -- and our cookie-cutter, "everyone do everything at the same time-let's make a smiling sun now" mentality makes those kids who do things differently, or just don't *feel* like making a sun "uncooperative."

As parents we need to listen to our children, even when they are really young, to see what it is that is bothering them. My son is 6. He was found to have sensory integration issues last year, and is almost out of OT/PT. When he was 2 and 3 we would have some incredible fights, especially at bathtime -- not all of the time (usually when he was over-tired), but enough to make me exhausted sometimes. I don't spank (I can't tell you how many people told me just to wack him) -- I could tell he was upset, but I tried to be consistant -- and tell him he "had" to.

Turns out, that *something* about the water, etc. really affected him. I was forcing him unknowingly into a situation where he was not comfortable, and the only way he could tell me was by running away and yelling. Yes, once he had language things went much smoother -- but so much of what I experienced then, I wish I knew what I know now about him and the way he perceives and experiences things.

I'm not saying that Sensory Integration is the cause for all ADD like behavior, or that the child you are concerned about has it -- but it is something to be considered along with other evaluations. Putting children on psychotropic medications just doesn't seem right to me at all.

Answer 2

I know there are some people who do have this problem. And I don't the exact age. But if you have a 3-6 year old than it is just their age. You can't possibly think that because a 3-4 year old throws a fit they have ADHD. Sorry if I have upset anyone but that is just my personal opinion.

Answer 3

-ou may be able to see signs much earlier than doctors are willing to test. My mother has been bugging me for a couple of years to have my daughter tested. She is in the second grade and is in the process receiving her in-class evaluation from her teacher. Where I live, a child can't be tested without a teacher recommendation. The past two years, the teachers have said they don't see anything wrong with her. (I don't either except for the complete lack of an attention span unless she is really involved or interested in something. I figured she was just bored or stubborn)

Back to my point, the teacher feels there is something to be concerned about and its taking her time to complete the 3 week evaluation. After the evaluation, they will send her to a councilor to evaluate if she needs further testing.

I have already decided I will not medicate if she is ADD or ADHD. I will go to counseling with her to help her learn techniques to make concentrating easier for her.

Answer 4

My child is ADD, we wondered about it for years, hoping that we were wrong and that with some effort and time the issues would resolve themselves. When she tested into the Gifted program in 2nd grade we talked to the Gifted teacher about some of our daughter's attention problems and were told that being "flaky" and disorganized are hallmarks of truly gifted children. By 3rd grade she had gone from straight A's to some C's and her regular teacher suggested that we might have her evaluated. We found a spectacular pediatrician had her evaluated and she began medicine. It made a world of difference in her life. Prior to the meds she could not focus long enough to complete a simple chore much less her math homework.

It took more than 6 months for us to get her meds adjusted to the right level (and the right med) so that is something to keep in mind.

As far as when to do it, if the symptoms start affecting school work or home life it is time. As they progress through school the demands on them become greater, not just the level of study but changing classes, lockers, etc.. For someone with severe ADD those things can lead to disaster.

My thoughts are with you, Best of Luck!

Answer 5

Hi

I cant stress this enough..Every single child and every single physician is different.

You do not tell the age of your child or if he or she has other issues medically or Psychologically. You also dont say why you are concerned.. Is your child acting out?

Many children SEEM ADHD whent hey are young but they are not.

We also have a HUGE number of Misdiagnosed kids on medications in our schools.

I would urge you to Not label your chlid, and take your concerns to your physician first.

Also look if there is a history of ADHD in the gene pool...

Only YOU know what is normal for your child....

Without more info this is all I can do

Good Luck

Wismom

Answer 6

My brother was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 2 years old! He has been on medicine for 10 years now and it really works! If you suspect that your child (or a child that you know) has ADHD...don't be afraid to tell the doctor! Hope that helps...

Answer 7

parents can usually spot symtpoms early on. Try and get a Dr to listen you to! Now that's the real problem! I read that age 8 is the average.
But as a parent you will probably know before that.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

doctors dont really look for them til after the child is in school and causing problems there around age 6

Answer 10

usually at age 3 my doctor wants my daughter evaluated now because she throws terrible tantrums and we thought it was because her speech was delayed but now she can talk and communicate so she has to have a developmental evaluation .