(Sponsored by Adolescent Child Specialty Services)

ADHD is a serious, life-long problem. It is much more than not being able to pay attention—that is only a symptom of a much larger problem. Individuals with ADHD are more likely to have car accidents, get in trouble with the law, have problems with underachievement in school, and have difficulties in relationships.Thus, early intervention and treatment are critical.

The best way to determine if your child has ADHD is to have a comprehensive evaluation conducted. That way, you can feel confident as a parent in the diagnosis your child is given. Unfortunately, ADHD cannot be properly diagnosed in a 15-minute interview, or by simply completing a few questionnaires. Instead, a comprehensive evaluation should examine each of the areas listed below.

Behavior History A complete history of your child’s development, physical health, behavior, learning, and social skills.

Home Behavior It is important for the examiner to assess your child’s current behavior at home. This is typically done through an interview and the use of questionnaires.

School Behavior Ideally, the examiner will conduct a classroom observation by going to your child’s classroom to gain a better understanding of your child’s difficulties. At a minimum, the examiner will use teacher questionnaires to learn more about your child’s behavior at school.

Learning Evaluation Undiagnosed learning disabilities often lead to behavior problems that look like ADHD, and many children with ADHD also have learning disabilities. Therefore it is critical that your child’s evaluation include testing for learning disabilities.

Emotional health It is important that an evaluation include an assessment for other emotional difficulties. This can be done through an interview and general child questionnaires.

Behavioral Strategies Every child with ADHD will need the support of a structured environment that includes assistance with staying on task, reminders of key requirements of the situation, and consistent, immediate positive and negative consequences. Many children are able to avoid or postpone the use of medication when behavioral strategies are maximized. Although behavioral strategies are a key component of any treatment program, they do not always resolve all symptoms, and medication is therefore sometimes necessary.

Medication Many children with ADHD will require medication in order to succeed in structured academic and social settings. There are more medication choices available today than ever before--you will want to discuss these options with your child's pediatrician to decide what, if any, medication may be appropriate for your child.

Academic Interventions An important part of most children's treatment is the use of appropriate academic interventions. Academic interventions can range from simple behavior management systems in the classroom to the development of a special homework system to ensure all work is turned in on time to specific interventions that address learning disabilities. Working with your child's school can maximize the benefits of his/her treatment.

Therapy Some families will find it beneficial to work with a psychologist in order to understand and adjust to the ADHD diagnosis. For older children, individual therapy may be beneficial for developing coping strategies and learning to deal with the frustrations often associated with ADHD. Group therapy for children diagnosed with ADHD may also be beneficial, particularly for mastering social skills that are often lacking.