A child must display behaviors from one of the three subtypes before age 7.
These behaviors must be more severe than in other kids the same age.
The behaviors must last for at least 6 months.
The behaviors must occur in and negatively affect at least two areas of a child's life. (such as school, home, day-care settings or friendships).
A correct diagnosis often resolves confusion about the reasons for the child's problems and helps the parents and child move forward in their lives with more accurate information on what is wrong and what can be done to help. Once the disorder is diagnosed, the child and family can begin to receive whatever combination of educational, medical, therapeutic and emotional help they need.
Diagnosing ADHD is difficult, since most children are impulsive or inattentive some of the time. Because ADHD is a lifelong condition and may require medication, careful and thorough assessment is essential. Ruling out other disorders and assessing for possible co-existing disorders enhances proper diagnosis and most effective intervention program for e.g. Learning disabilities experienced by many children with ADHD may further complicate the task of identifying the scope of the difficulty and in providing the most effective treatment. A thorough assessment should include gathering information from individuals familiar with the child (parents/care-giver, teacher) and should include consideration of other diagnostic possibilities. Often included in the assessment procedure is an intelligence test (IQ), test of achievement, along with evaluating their emotional functioning.
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