How can I understand the aspects of ADHD that might be new or unfamiliar to my child’s doctor?
Could your child have ADHD? In this 8-part guide, you’ll find expert answers to the questions that will help you make key decisions about seeking a diagnosis.
RSD: Is rejection sensitive dysphoria a symptom of ADHD?
A: Rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) is not a medical diagnosis, but a way of describing certain symptoms associated with ADHD… | Keep reading on WebMD »
EMOTIONS: Is emotional dysregulation a symptom of ADHD?
A: Emotional dysregulation is a term used to describe an emotional response that is poorly regulated and does not fall within… | Keep reading on WebMD »
SUBTLE SYMPTOMS: What symptoms of ADHD are often missed by educators, professionals, and even parents?
A: It’s not easy to know if your child has ADHD. As a parent, it may be less about the symptoms shouting ADHD, and more about feeling something’s not right. Your kid is struggling, but you don’t know why… | Keep reading on ADDitude »
EARLY YEARS: How does ADHD manifest in toddlers?
A: Emotional dysregulation often looks like excess emotion. Neurotypical toddlers typically experience up to three tantrums a week. Toddlers with ADHD, on the other hand… | Keep reading on ADDitude »
SOCIAL SKILLS: What social executive function deficits may suggest ADHD in my child?
A: Children and teens with ADHD tend to have a hard time with skills that underlie social interactions, such as perspective-taking, situational awareness… | Keep reading on ADDitude »
MISDIAGNOSIS: What symptoms of ADHD are my child’s doctor most likely to miss or misread?
A: Some children resort to defiant behavior to cover up anxiety, and other children who appear “defiant” are actually just impulsive. This is another case where it’s important for doctors to tease out the root cause… | Keep reading on ADDitude »
FIRST-PERSON: “When the First Signs of My Child’s ADHD Were Revealed”
“I asked our son why he didn’t like to wash his hair. ‘It takes too long and it’s boring,’ he told me. ‘Yeah, it is kind of boring,’ I replied. That’s when we decided to have him evaluated for ADHD. (I have ADHD myself, and told him he might have inherited mommy’s ‘silly brain.’)” | Keep reading on ADDitude »
RELATED RESOURCES
SYMPTOM TEST: Working Memory Deficits
A working memory deficit could explain a child’s difficulty with reading retention or mental math. | Take the self-test on ADDitude »
SYMPTOM TEST: Executive Function Deficit
Does your child have trouble getting started or struggle with problem-solving? | Take the self-test on ADDitude »
8-Part Guide to ADHD Diagnosis in Children, from WebMD x ADDitude:
DECISION 1: How can I better understand ADHD, its causes, and its manifestations?
> DECISION 2: How can I understand the aspects of ADHD that might be new to the doctor?
DECISION 3: How can I improve the odds of an accurate ADHD evaluation for my child?
DECISION 4: How can I find a professional to diagnose and treat my child’s ADHD?
DECISION 5: What should a thorough evaluation for pediatric ADHD include and exclude?
DECISION 6: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation screens for psychiatric comorbidities?
DECISION 7: How can I be sure my child’s evaluation considers look-alike comorbidities?
DECISION 8: Should my child be screened for the sleep, eating, and other disorders?
