How do you know if your child has ADHD? What if that child is only three years old?
Thursday, June 19th, 2008A child does not have to have all of the symptoms of ADHD in order to be diagnosed. Only 6 hyperactive/impulsive symptoms are needed to diagnose ADHD primarily hyperactive/impulsive. The child needs 6 of the inattentive symptoms to be diagnosed with ADHD primarily inattentive.
If the child has six in each category, the combined ADHD can be diagnosed. However, 3 year olds probably need to have 7 or 8 of the symptoms since more of the symptoms are normal at that age. It is also important that the child be compared with his/her peers when deciding whether the symptoms are present. Finally a child must also meet the impairment requirements in DSM IV in order to be diagnosed. If the child is not significantly impaired, the diagnosis should not be given.
If you have concerns, I recommend that you take your child to be evaluated by a child psychologist or by his/her pediatrician.
~Dr. C
Tags: ADHD, adhd child, adhd families, adhd in three year old, adhd specialist, attention defecit, child psychologist, defiant disorder, hyperactivity disorder, inattentive symptoms, problem behaviors
